Home · Gobiidae · Ridgefin goby
Ridgefin goby (Gobiosoma hildebrandi) — Gobiidae

Ridgefin goby

Gobiosoma hildebrandi
Family: Gobiidae
VU · Vulnerable

The Ridgefin goby (Gobiosoma hildebrandi) is a saltwater fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 4 cm.

Length
3.6 cm
Water
Saltwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Caribbean coast of Panama; marine and brackish coastal waters.
Edibility
Not eaten

Want the complete picture on the Ridgefin goby?

Description

The Ridgefin goby is a goby (Gobiidae) from shallow coastal, estuarine or reef water of the western Atlantic off Panama. The species grows to about 6 cm and has a slender, brown-speckled body with fused pelvic fins forming a sucker. As a bottom-dweller it sits on sand, mud or rock by weed, roots or a burrow and snaps at small invertebrates, algae and detritus. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Ridgefin goby?

The Ridgefin goby has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern. Small goby with sucker-like pelvic fins; restricted to the Lake Gatun area; vulnerable.

Where does the Ridgefin goby live?

The Ridgefin goby lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Caribbean coast of Panama; marine and brackish coastal waters.

How big does the Ridgefin goby get?

The Ridgefin goby grows to a maximum of about 4 cm.

Is the Ridgefin goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Ridgefin goby is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Ridgefin goby edible?

The Ridgefin goby is not usually eaten.

Want the complete picture on the Ridgefin goby?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Ridgefin goby is one of 12,519 species in the app.

All data

Identification

English name
Ridgefin goby sourced
Scientific name
Gobiosoma hildebrandi
Family
Gobiidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
3.6 sourced
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Rounded
Mouth position
Terminal
Lips
Thin
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Natural range
Caribbean coast of Panama; marine and brackish coastal waters.
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small bottom-dwelling invertebrates sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary
Territorial
No
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known.
Special features
Small goby with sucker-like pelvic fins; restricted to the Lake Gatun area; vulnerable. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Not a target species for angling; at most an incidental catch or usable as baitfish.
Regulations source

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Gobiosoma

More from the family Gobiidae

Want the complete picture on the Ridgefin goby?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Ridgefin goby is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Is this the Ridgefin goby?