Home · Gobiidae · Caspian tadpole goby
Caspian tadpole goby (Benthophilus ctenolepidus) — Gobiidae

Caspian tadpole goby

Benthophilus ctenolepidus
Family: Gobiidae

The Caspian tadpole goby (Benthophilus ctenolepidus) is a freshwater fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 6 cm.

Length
6 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Azerbaijan, Iran

Want the complete picture on the Caspian tadpole goby?

Get the app

Description

The Caspian tadpole goby is a small goby (Gobiidae) from brackish and fresh water of the Caspian Sea region. The species grows to about 6 cm and has a stocky, tadpole-like body with a broad, flattened head set with bony tubercles and spinelets, and fused pelvic fins forming a sucker. As a bottom-dweller it perches on sand and mud bottoms of shallow bays and river mouths and snaps at small crustaceans, molluscs and worms. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Caspian tadpole goby?

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

Where does the Caspian tadpole goby live?

The Caspian tadpole goby lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Asia: Azerbaijan, Iran

How big does the Caspian tadpole goby get?

The Caspian tadpole goby grows to a maximum of about 6 cm.

Is the Caspian tadpole goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Caspian tadpole 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.

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Caspian tadpole goby?

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

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Caspian tadpole goby sourced
Scientific name
Benthophilus ctenolepidus
Family
Gobiidae

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Natural range
Asia: Azerbaijan, Iran 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

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 Benthophilus

More from the family Gobiidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Caspian tadpole goby?

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

Get the app →
Is this the Caspian tadpole goby? Get the app