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Spangled gudgeon (Ophiocara macrolepidota) — Eleotridae

Spangled gudgeon

Ophiocara macrolepidota
Family: Eleotridae
NE · Not Evaluated

The Spangled gudgeon (Ophiocara macrolepidota) is a freshwater fish of the family Eleotridae that grows up to 25 cm.

Length
25 cm
Water
Freshwater
Depth
0–? m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The spangled gudgeon is a sleeper goby endemic to the east coast of Madagascar. The species grows to about 25 cm and has a stocky body with large scales and two separate dorsal fins. It lives in fresh and brackish water of rivers and mangroves and is amphidromous. As a predator with a large mouth it hunts smaller animals. The fish is harmless to humans and has not been evaluated by the IUCN (NE).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Spangled gudgeon?

The Spangled gudgeon has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Spangled gudgeon live?

The Spangled gudgeon lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Spangled gudgeon get?

The Spangled gudgeon grows to a maximum of about 25 cm.

Is the Spangled gudgeon dangerous to humans?

No, the Spangled gudgeon is harmless to humans.

Is the Spangled gudgeon edible?

The Spangled gudgeon is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Grootschub-slaapgrondel verified
English name
Spangled gudgeon verified
Scientific name
Ophiocara macrolepidota
Family
Eleotridae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
25.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thick / fleshy sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
0 sourced
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
Yes inferred
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Ophiocara

More from the family Eleotridae

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