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Emerald coral goby (Paragobiodon xanthosoma) — Gobiidae

Emerald coral goby

Paragobiodon xanthosoma
Family: Gobiidae

The Emerald coral goby (Paragobiodon xanthosoma) is a saltwater fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 4 cm.

Length
4 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0–70.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The emerald coral goby is a tiny goby (Gobiidae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 4 cm and has a stocky body with a yellow-green, emerald-like trunk and a dark, papilla-covered head. It lives clinging among the branches of living stony coral, especially Seriatopora, where it finds shelter and snaps at small zooplankton. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Emerald coral goby?

The Emerald coral goby has a flattened, disc-shaped body and is mainly green.

Where does the Emerald coral goby live?

The Emerald coral goby lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Emerald coral goby get?

The Emerald coral goby grows to a maximum of about 4 cm.

Is the Emerald coral goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Emerald coral goby is harmless to humans.

Is the Emerald coral goby edible?

Yes, the Emerald coral goby is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Smaragd-koraalgrondel sourced
English name
Emerald coral goby sourced
Scientific name
Paragobiodon xanthosoma
Family
Gobiidae
Other names
Emerald coral goby; Emerald goby; Yellow coral goby; Yellowgreen coralgoby; Yellowskin goby verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
4.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Green sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Max depth (m)
70.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. 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 Paragobiodon

More from the family Gobiidae

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