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Slender eel goby (Taenioides gracilis) — Gobiidae

Slender eel goby

Taenioides gracilis
Family: Gobiidae

The Slender eel goby (Taenioides gracilis) is a brackish-water fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 30 cm.

Length
30 cm
Water
Brackish
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The slender eel goby is an eel-like goby (Gobiidae) from muddy estuaries and tidal flats of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 25 cm and has a strongly elongate, pinkish, almost worm-like body with tiny, reduced eyes, a row of sharp teeth and confluent dorsal, tail and anal fins. As a burrowing bottom-dweller it lives in self-dug tunnels in soft mud and snaps at small invertebrates. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Slender eel goby?

The Slender eel goby has a snake-like body and is mainly pink-purple.

Where does the Slender eel goby live?

The Slender eel goby lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Slender eel goby get?

The Slender eel goby grows to a maximum of about 30 cm.

Is the Slender eel goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Slender eel goby is harmless to humans.

Is the Slender eel goby edible?

Yes, the Slender eel goby is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Slanke wormgrondel sourced
English name
Slender eel goby sourced
Scientific name
Taenioides gracilis
Family
Gobiidae
Other names
Slender eelgoby verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
30.0 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Pink / purple sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish 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

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. 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 Taenioides

More from the family Gobiidae

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