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Bighead goby (Drombus globiceps) — Gobiidae

Bighead goby

Drombus globiceps
Family: Gobiidae

The Bighead goby (Drombus globiceps) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 4 cm.

Length
4.3 cm
Water
Euryhaline
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Australia, India, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Singapore

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Description

The bighead goby is a small goby (Gobiidae) from coastal and brackish water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 4 cm and has a stocky, brown-speckled body with a conspicuously broad, round head. As a bottom-dweller it lives in estuaries, mangroves and tide pools and snaps at small crustaceans, worms and algae. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Bighead goby?

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

Where does the Bighead goby live?

The Bighead goby lives in both fresh and salt water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Asia: Australia, India, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Singapore

How big does the Bighead goby get?

The Bighead goby grows to a maximum of about 4 cm.

Is the Bighead goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Bighead 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.

More photos

Bighead goby (Drombus globiceps) — Gobiidae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — Dinh D. Tran, FiMSeA (CC BY 3.0 au)
Bighead goby (Drombus globiceps) — Gobiidae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — Dinh D. Tran, FiMSeA (CC BY 3.0 au)
Bighead goby (Drombus globiceps) — Gobiidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Lumin Ong, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Bighead goby (Drombus globiceps) — Gobiidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) ayegege, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
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All data

Identification

English name
Bighead goby sourced
Scientific name
Drombus globiceps
Family
Gobiidae
Other names
Kranji drombus verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
4.3 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Euryhaline sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Natural range
Asia: Australia, India, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Singapore sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Small fishes, crustaceans and invertebrates inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
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

Same genus Drombus

More from the family Gobiidae

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