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River goby (Awaous banana) — Gobiidae

River goby

Awaous banana
Family: Gobiidae
LC · Least Concern

The River goby (Awaous banana) is a brackish-water fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 30 cm.

Length
30 cm
Water
Brackish
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The river goby is a goby (Gobiidae) from the fresh and brackish waters of tropical America. The species grows to about 30 cm and has an elongate, sand-coloured body with a marbled pattern and, like other gobies, fused pelvic fins forming a sucking disc. It inhabits clear streams and rivers over sand and gravel, but also turbid waters with muddy bottoms; it prefers clear, well-oxygenated flowing water. On the bottom it sifts detritus, algae and small invertebrates from the sediment. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the River goby?

The River goby has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the River goby live?

The River goby lives in brackish water and is mostly found around mixed bottom.

How big does the River goby get?

The River goby grows to a maximum of about 30 cm.

Is the River goby dangerous to humans?

No, the River goby is harmless to humans.

Is the River goby edible?

The River goby is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Bananen-riviergrondel sourced
English name
River goby verified
Scientific name
Awaous banana
Family
Gobiidae
Other names
River goby verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
30.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Spots inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
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 sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Awaous

More from the family Gobiidae

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