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Serpentine goby (Pterogobius elapoides) — Gobiidae

Serpentine goby

Pterogobius elapoides
Family: Gobiidae

The Serpentine goby (Pterogobius elapoides) is a saltwater fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 8 cm.

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

Description

The serpentine goby is a small goby (Gobiidae) from coastal waters of the northwest Pacific, off East Asia. The species grows to about 8 cm and has an elongate, pale body with a few conspicuous dark, yellow-edged crossbars. As a bottom-dweller it hovers just above sand and reef bottoms of shallow coastal water and snaps at small crustaceans and zooplankton. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Serpentine goby?

The Serpentine goby has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly white and shows a vertical stripes pattern.

Where does the Serpentine goby live?

The Serpentine goby lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Serpentine goby get?

The Serpentine goby grows to a maximum of about 8 cm.

Is the Serpentine goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Serpentine goby is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Slang-grondel sourced
English name
Serpentine goby sourced
Scientific name
Pterogobius elapoides
Family
Gobiidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
8.3 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
White sourced
Pattern
Vertical bars sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater 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
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 Pterogobius

More from the family Gobiidae

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