Fin's Fish Guide
The Caucasian dwarf goby (Knipowitschia caucasica) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 5 cm.
Basins of the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, in brackish lagoons, river mouths and adjacent fresh water.
Description
The Caucasian dwarf goby is a very small goby of the family Gobiidae reaching about 5 cm. The slender, brownish body has, like all gobies, pelvic fins fused into a sucking disc with which it clings to the bottom; breeding males develop dark cross-bars and yellow tints. The species is euryhaline and lives in brackish lagoons, river mouths and adjacent fresh water of the Black Sea and Caspian Sea basins. As a bottom-dweller it hunts small zooplankton, crustacean larvae and mosquito larvae. It is short-lived; the male guards the eggs laid under a shell or stone. Because of its small size it has no fishery importance, but locally it is numerous.
Frequently asked questions
How do you recognise the Caucasian dwarf goby?
The Caucasian dwarf goby has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a vertical stripes pattern. Very small goby with the pelvic fins fused into a sucking disc; in the spawning season males develop dark vertical bars and yellow tints.
Where does the Caucasian dwarf goby live?
The Caucasian dwarf goby lives in both fresh and salt water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Basins of the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, in brackish lagoons, river mouths and adjacent fresh water.
How big does the Caucasian dwarf goby get?
The Caucasian dwarf goby grows to a maximum of about 5 cm.
Is the Caucasian dwarf goby dangerous to humans?
No, the Caucasian dwarf goby is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.
Is the Caucasian dwarf goby edible?
The Caucasian dwarf goby is not usually eaten.
More photos
Easily confused with
These species look like the Caucasian dwarf goby and live in the same waters.
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All data
Identification
Appearance
Habitat & distribution
Behaviour & biology
For anglers
Safety
Status & sources
Same genus Knipowitschia
More from the family Gobiidae
Want the complete picture on the Caucasian dwarf goby?
Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Caucasian dwarf goby is one of 12,519 species in the app.