Fin's Fish Guide
The Arrow goby (Clevelandia ios) is a brackish-water fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 6 cm.
Eastern Pacific off the west coast of North America; estuaries and tidal areas.
Description
The arrow goby is a small goby (Gobiidae) from the eastern Pacific off the west coast of North America. The species grows to only a few centimetres and has a slender, translucent, arrow-shaped body. It inhabits sand and mud bottoms of estuaries, lagoons and intertidal areas, where it shares the burrows of shrimps and worms and retreats into a shrimp burrow when threatened or at low tide. On the bottom it forages on small zooplankton and detritus. The species is harmless to humans.
Frequently asked questions
How do you recognise the Arrow goby?
The Arrow goby has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern. Slender arrow-shaped little goby that shares the burrows of shrimps and worms and dives into them.
Where does the Arrow goby live?
The Arrow goby lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Eastern Pacific off the west coast of North America; estuaries and tidal areas.
How big does the Arrow goby get?
The Arrow goby grows to a maximum of about 6 cm. On average the species is around 4 cm.
Is the Arrow goby dangerous to humans?
No, the Arrow goby is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.
Is the Arrow goby edible?
The Arrow goby is not usually eaten.
More photos
Want the complete picture on the Arrow goby?
Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Arrow goby is one of 12,519 species in the app.
All data
Identification
Appearance
Habitat & distribution
Behaviour & biology
For anglers
Safety
Status & sources
More from the family Gobiidae
Want the complete picture on the Arrow goby?
Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Arrow goby is one of 12,519 species in the app.