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Atlantic shrimp goby (Nes longus) — Gobiidae

Atlantic shrimp goby

Nes longus
Family: Gobiidae
NE · Not Evaluated

The Atlantic shrimp goby (Nes longus) is a saltwater fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 10 cm.

Length
10 cm
Water
Saltwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Western Atlantic
Edibility
Not eaten

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Description

The orangespotted goby is a goby from the western Atlantic, from Florida and the Bahamas to the Caribbean. The species grows to about 10 cm and has an elongate, light-coloured body with orange spots and flecks. Like other shrimp gobies it shares a burrow on sandy bottoms with a near-blind pistol shrimp: the shrimp digs and maintains the burrow while the goby keeps watch and warns of danger. The fish is harmless to humans and has not been evaluated by the IUCN (NE).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Atlantic shrimp goby?

The Atlantic shrimp goby has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly white and shows a spots pattern. Shares a burrow with a blind pistol shrimp and keeps watch

Where does the Atlantic shrimp goby live?

The Atlantic shrimp goby lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Western Atlantic

How big does the Atlantic shrimp goby get?

The Atlantic shrimp goby grows to a maximum of about 10 cm.

Is the Atlantic shrimp goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Atlantic shrimp 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.

Is the Atlantic shrimp goby edible?

The Atlantic shrimp goby is not usually eaten.

More photos

Atlantic shrimp goby (Nes longus) — Gobiidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Kenneth Manole, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Atlantic shrimp goby (Nes longus) — Gobiidae — 3
Florida Museum of Natural History Ichthyology (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — UF
Atlantic shrimp goby (Nes longus) — Gobiidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Xavier Rufray, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Atlantic shrimp goby (Nes longus) — Gobiidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Curtis Hart, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Atlantic shrimp goby verified
Scientific name
Nes longus
Family
Gobiidae
Other names
Orangespotted goby; Orangespotted Goby verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
10.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
White inferred
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Rounded 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
Natural range
Western Atlantic verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small invertebrates inferred
Social behaviour
Small groups sourced
Territorial
Yes sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Shrimp goby in symbiosis with a pistol shrimp; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Shares a burrow with a blind pistol shrimp and keeps watch sourced

For anglers

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

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
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

More from the family Gobiidae

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