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Whitebanded goby (Pterogobius zonoleucus) — Gobiidae

Whitebanded goby

Pterogobius zonoleucus
Family: Gobiidae

The Whitebanded goby (Pterogobius zonoleucus) is a saltwater fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 7 cm.

Length
6.7 cm
Water
Saltwater
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Japan, Korea (South)

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Description

The whitebanded goby is a small goby (Gobiidae) from coastal waters of the northwest Pacific, off East Asia. The species grows to about 7 cm and has an elongate, pale body with a few white and dark 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 Whitebanded goby?

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

Where does the Whitebanded goby live?

The Whitebanded goby lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Asia: Japan, Korea (South)

How big does the Whitebanded goby get?

The Whitebanded goby grows to a maximum of about 7 cm.

Is the Whitebanded goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Whitebanded goby is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

More photos

Whitebanded goby (Pterogobius zonoleucus) — Gobiidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) taiwan_habu, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Whitebanded goby (Pterogobius zonoleucus) — Gobiidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) taiwan_habu, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Whitebanded goby (Pterogobius zonoleucus) — Gobiidae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — Totti (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Whitebanded goby (Pterogobius zonoleucus) — Gobiidae — 5
Wikimedia Commons — Totti (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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All data

Identification

English name
Whitebanded goby sourced
Scientific name
Pterogobius zonoleucus
Family
Gobiidae

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Natural range
Asia: Japan, Korea (South) sourced
Origin
Native

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore
Diet (detail)
Small fishes, crustaceans and invertebrates
Territorial
No
Reproduction
Separate sexes
Sexual dimorphism
No
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known.

For anglers

Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish.
Regulations source

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. 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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