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False sleeper-goby (Amblygobius nocturnus) — Gobiidae

False sleeper-goby

Amblygobius nocturnus
Family: Gobiidae
LC · Least Concern

The False sleeper-goby (Amblygobius nocturnus) is a saltwater fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 10 cm.

Length
10 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–30.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The nocturn goby is a small goby of the Indo-Pacific, ranging from the Red Sea and the Maldives to the Tuamotu Islands. It grows to about 10 cm and has a pale grey body with pink longitudinal stripes and a row of eight to nine dark spots along the base of the dorsal fin; the caudal fin is pointed. The fish has two dorsal fins of equal height. It lives on fine sand and mud bottoms of reefs between 1 and 30 metres depth, often solitary or in pairs, and feeds on small invertebrates and organic matter. The IUCN assesses it as Least Concern (LC).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the False sleeper-goby?

The False sleeper-goby has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a horizontal stripes pattern.

Where does the False sleeper-goby live?

The False sleeper-goby lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the False sleeper-goby get?

The False sleeper-goby grows to a maximum of about 10 cm.

Is the False sleeper-goby dangerous to humans?

No, the False sleeper-goby is harmless to humans.

Is the False sleeper-goby edible?

The False sleeper-goby is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Nachtgrondel verified
English name
False sleeper-goby verified
Scientific name
Amblygobius nocturnus
Family
Gobiidae
Other names
Nocturn goby; Pyjama goby verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
10.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Pattern
Horizontal stripes sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
30.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups sourced
Territorial
Yes inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Geen doelsoort voor de hengelsport; hooguit incidentele vangst of bruikbaar als aasvisje. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Amblygobius

More from the family Gobiidae

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