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Tailspot sleeper (Oxyeleotris urophthalmus) — Eleotridae

Tailspot sleeper

Oxyeleotris urophthalmus
Family: Eleotridae

The Tailspot sleeper (Oxyeleotris urophthalmus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Eleotridae that grows up to 28 cm.

Length
28 cm
Water
Brackish
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The tailspot sleeper is a sleeper goby (Eleotridae) from fresh and brackish water of lower river reaches and swamps in the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 15 cm and has an elongate, dark-brown body with a conspicuous dark spot on the tail base, a broad head and separate pelvic fins. As a bottom-oriented ambush hunter it shelters among roots, plants and leaf litter and seizes small fish, crustaceans and insects. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Tailspot sleeper?

The Tailspot sleeper has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Tailspot sleeper live?

The Tailspot sleeper lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Tailspot sleeper get?

The Tailspot sleeper grows to a maximum of about 28 cm.

Is the Tailspot sleeper dangerous to humans?

No, the Tailspot sleeper is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Staartvlek-sluimergrondel sourced
English name
Tailspot sleeper sourced
Scientific name
Oxyeleotris urophthalmus
Family
Eleotridae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
28.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

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 verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Oxyeleotris

More from the family Eleotridae

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