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Canestrini's goby (Pomatoschistus canestrinii) — Gobiidae

Canestrini's goby

Pomatoschistus canestrinii
Family: Gobiidae
LC · Least Concern

The Canestrini's goby (Pomatoschistus canestrinii) is a brackish-water fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 5 cm.

Length
5 cm
Water
Brackish
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

Canestrini's goby is a small, sandy-coloured goby of the family Gobiidae reaching about 5 cm. The translucent body bears a few dark spots; like other gobies the pelvic fins are fused into a sucking disc. The species is largely tied to brackish coastal lagoons, river deltas and estuaries of the northern Adriatic Sea and surroundings, where it tolerates strongly varying salinity and lives in soft, vegetated water. On the bottom it searches for small zooplankton, small crustaceans and worms. Breeding males are darker and defend a territory; they guard the eggs laid under a shell until they hatch. Because of its small size it has no fishery importance, but it is typical of the lagoon environment.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Canestrini's goby?

The Canestrini's goby is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Canestrini's goby live?

The Canestrini's goby lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Canestrini's goby get?

The Canestrini's goby grows to a maximum of about 5 cm.

Is the Canestrini's goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Canestrini's goby is harmless to humans.

Is the Canestrini's goby edible?

The Canestrini's goby is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Canestrini's grondel inferred
English name
Canestrini's goby inferred
Scientific name
Pomatoschistus canestrinii
Family
Gobiidae

Appearance

Max length (cm)
5 verified
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No verified
Dorsal fins
Two separate sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes verified

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish verified
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore verified
Social behaviour
Small groups verified
Territorial
Yes verified
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes verified
Sexual dimorphism
Yes verified

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten verified
Fishing method
Geen doelsoort voor de hengelsport; hooguit incidentele vangst of bruikbaar als aasvisje. 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 Pomatoschistus

More from the family Gobiidae

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