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Oopu Nakea (Awaous guamensis) — Gobiidae

Oopu Nakea

Awaous guamensis
Family: Gobiidae
LC · Least Concern

The Oopu Nakea (Awaous guamensis) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 25 cm.

Length
24.5 cm
Water
Euryhaline
Depth
1.0–1000.0 m
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The Pacific river goby is a goby (Gobiidae) from the islands and coasts of the Indo-Pacific. The species has an elongate, sand-coloured, mottled body and fused pelvic fins forming a sucking disc. It is amphidromous: the larvae wash out to sea and the young return to ascend the rivers, to lowland streams and fast-flowing streams at about 1000 m elevation. On the bottom it takes mouthfuls of sand to sift out small invertebrates, algae and detritus. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Oopu Nakea?

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

Where does the Oopu Nakea live?

The Oopu Nakea lives in both fresh and salt water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Oopu Nakea get?

The Oopu Nakea grows to a maximum of about 25 cm.

Is the Oopu Nakea dangerous to humans?

No, the Oopu Nakea is harmless to humans.

Is the Oopu Nakea edible?

The Oopu Nakea is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Pacifische riviergrondel sourced
English name
Oopu Nakea verified
Scientific name
Awaous guamensis
Family
Gobiidae
Other names
Scribbled goby verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
24.5 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
Euryhaline sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
1000.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups 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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