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River Goby (Awaous tajasica) — Gobiidae

River Goby

Awaous tajasica
Family: Gobiidae
LC · Least Concern

The River Goby (Awaous tajasica) is a brackish-water fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 16 cm.

Length
16.3 cm
Water
Brackish
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The sand fish goby is a goby of the family Gobiidae from the coastal rivers of Brazil in South America. The species grows to about 16 cm and has an elongate, sand-coloured mottled body with a pointed head. It lives mainly in fresh water in lakes, ponds, rivers and streams but tolerates brackish water and is amphidromous: the larvae develop in the sea before the young return to fresh water. As a bottom searcher it takes mouthfuls of sand from which it sifts small invertebrates, algae and detritus. Gobies cling to the substrate with their fused pelvic fins. 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 marbled pattern.

Where does the River Goby live?

The River Goby lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the River Goby get?

The River Goby grows to a maximum of about 16 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
Zandvis-grondel sourced
English name
River Goby verified
Scientific name
Awaous tajasica
Family
Gobiidae
Other names
River goby; Sand fish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
16.3 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Marbled inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud 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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