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Broad-barred goby (Gobiodon histrio) — Gobiidae

Broad-barred goby

Gobiodon histrio
Family: Gobiidae

The Broad-barred goby (Gobiodon histrio) is a saltwater fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 4 cm.

Length
3.5 cm
Water
Saltwater
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Australia, Indonesia, Japan, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines and others
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The broad-barred goby is a very small coral goby (Gobiidae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 4 cm and has a stocky, green body with fine blue and red lines on the head. It lives among the branches of live stony corals (Acropora), where it finds shelter and protects itself from predators with a bitter, slimy skin secretion. It eats small invertebrates and coral mucus. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Broad-barred goby?

The Broad-barred goby has a flattened, disc-shaped body and is mainly green.

Where does the Broad-barred goby live?

The Broad-barred goby lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Asia: Australia, Indonesia, Japan, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines and others

How big does the Broad-barred goby get?

The Broad-barred goby grows to a maximum of about 4 cm.

Is the Broad-barred goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Broad-barred 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.

Is the Broad-barred goby edible?

Yes, the Broad-barred goby is commonly eaten.

More photos

Broad-barred goby (Gobiodon histrio) — Gobiidae — 2
Richard Winterbottom (CC BY 4.0) via GBIF — SAIAB
Broad-barred goby (Gobiodon histrio) — Gobiidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) momaz, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Broad-barred goby (Gobiodon histrio) — Gobiidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) momaz, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Broad-barred goby (Gobiodon histrio) — Gobiidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) momaz, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Broad-barred goby sourced
Scientific name
Gobiodon histrio
Family
Gobiidae
Other names
Broad-banded goby; Broad-barred goby; Broad-barred maori goby; Blue-spotted coral goby; Green clown goby; Maori coral goby; Maori coralgoby verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
3.5 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Green sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Natural range
Asia: Australia, Indonesia, Japan, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines and others 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

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
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 Gobiodon

More from the family Gobiidae

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