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Barbel goby (Barbuligobius boehlkei) — Gobiidae

Barbel goby

Barbuligobius boehlkei
Family: Gobiidae

The Barbel goby (Barbuligobius boehlkei) is a saltwater fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 2 cm.

Length
2 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–15.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The barbel goby is a small goby (Gobiidae) from shallow sand and reef water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 5 cm and has a slender, pale, sandy body with fine barbel-like projections on the chin and fused pelvic fins forming a sucker. As a bottom-dweller it perches on sand bottoms near the reef and snaps at small crustaceans and worms. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Barbel goby?

The Barbel goby has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Barbel goby live?

The Barbel goby lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Barbel goby get?

The Barbel goby grows to a maximum of about 2 cm.

Is the Barbel goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Barbel goby is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Baard-grondel sourced
English name
Barbel goby sourced
Scientific name
Barbuligobius boehlkei
Family
Gobiidae
Other names
Cryptic bearded goby verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
2.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
15.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

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

More from the family Gobiidae

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