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Sponge coral goby (Pleurosicya fringilla) — Gobiidae

Sponge coral goby

Pleurosicya fringilla
Family: Gobiidae

The Sponge coral goby (Pleurosicya fringilla) is a saltwater fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 2 cm.

Length
2.2 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0–30.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless

Description

The sponge coral goby is a tiny goby (Gobiidae) from clear reef water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to only about 2 cm and has a translucent, slender body with a pink or yellowish tint, so it rests almost invisibly on its host. As a permanent resident it lives on live corals, sponges or large shells and snaps at minute zooplankton and growth. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Sponge coral goby?

The Sponge coral goby has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly pink-purple.

Where does the Sponge coral goby live?

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

How big does the Sponge coral goby get?

The Sponge coral goby grows to a maximum of about 2 cm.

Is the Sponge coral goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Sponge coral goby is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Dwerg-koraalgrondel sourced
English name
Sponge coral goby sourced
Scientific name
Pleurosicya fringilla
Family
Gobiidae
Other names
Staghorn thicket goby; Staghorn thicketgoby verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
2.2 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Pink / purple inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

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

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

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 Pleurosicya

More from the family Gobiidae

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