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Mascarene cling goby (Cotylopus acutipinnis) — Gobiidae

Mascarene cling goby

Cotylopus acutipinnis
Family: Gobiidae
DD · Data Deficient

The Mascarene cling goby (Cotylopus acutipinnis) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 13 cm.

Length
13.4 cm
Water
Euryhaline
Diet
Herbivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The Mascarene cling goby is a goby (Gobiidae) from the islands of the western Indian Ocean. The species has pelvic fins fused into a sucker with which it clings to stones and can even climb waterfalls. It inhabits swift, clear rainforest streams, where it rasps algae from the stones. It is amphidromous: the larvae wash out to sea and the juveniles later ascend the rivers again. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Mascarene cling goby?

The Mascarene cling goby has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Mascarene cling goby live?

The Mascarene cling goby lives in both fresh and salt water and is mostly found around mixed bottom.

How big does the Mascarene cling goby get?

The Mascarene cling goby grows to a maximum of about 13 cm.

Is the Mascarene cling goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Mascarene cling goby is harmless to humans.

Is the Mascarene cling goby edible?

The Mascarene cling goby is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Mascarenen-klimgrondel sourced
English name
Mascarene cling goby sourced
Scientific name
Cotylopus acutipinnis
Family
Gobiidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
13.4 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Spots inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Euryhaline sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Herbivore sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

More from the family Gobiidae

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