Home · Gobiidae · Canary goby
Canary goby (Vanneaugobius canariensis) — Gobiidae

Canary goby

Vanneaugobius canariensis
Family: Gobiidae

The Canary goby (Vanneaugobius canariensis) is a saltwater fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 4 cm.

Length
4.3 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
9.0–45.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Africa: Cape Verde, Guinea, Madeira Is., Canary Is.

Want the complete picture on the Canary goby?

Get the app

Description

The Canary goby is a small goby (Gobiidae) from coastal waters of the eastern Atlantic, around the Canary Islands. The species grows to about 5 cm and has a stocky, light-brown body with fine dark markings and fused pelvic fins forming a sucker. As a bottom-dweller it perches on sand and stone bottoms of rocky shores and snaps at small crustaceans and worms. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Canary goby?

The Canary goby has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Canary goby live?

The Canary goby lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Africa: Cape Verde, Guinea, Madeira Is., Canary Is.

How big does the Canary goby get?

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

Is the Canary goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Canary 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

Canary goby (Vanneaugobius canariensis) — Gobiidae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — Donald Davesne (CC BY 4.0)
Canary goby (Vanneaugobius canariensis) — Gobiidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Donald Davesne, some rights reserved (CC BY))
Canary goby (Vanneaugobius canariensis) — Gobiidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Julien Renoult, some rights reserved (CC BY))
Canary goby (Vanneaugobius canariensis) — Gobiidae — 5
José Miguel Uña Delafuente (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Canary goby?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Canary goby is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Canary goby sourced
Scientific name
Vanneaugobius canariensis
Family
Gobiidae

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
9.0 verified
Max depth (m)
45.0 verified
Natural range
Africa: Cape Verde, Guinea, Madeira Is., Canary Is. 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 Vanneaugobius

More from the family Gobiidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Canary goby?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Canary goby is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Canary goby? Get the app