Home · Gobiidae · Burrowing goby
Burrowing goby (Croilia mossambica) — Gobiidae

Burrowing goby

Croilia mossambica
Family: Gobiidae

The Burrowing goby (Croilia mossambica) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 6 cm.

Length
6.4 cm
Water
Euryhaline
Depth
1.0–16.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The burrowing goby is a small goby (Gobiidae) from fresh and brackish water of estuaries and coastal lakes of southeastern Africa. The species grows to about 5 cm and has a slender, pale, semi-translucent body with small eyes and fused pelvic fins. As a bottom-dweller it stays largely hidden in and on soft sand and mud bottoms and snaps at small invertebrates. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Burrowing goby?

The Burrowing goby has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Burrowing goby live?

The Burrowing goby lives in both fresh and salt water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Burrowing goby get?

The Burrowing goby grows to a maximum of about 6 cm.

Is the Burrowing goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Burrowing goby is harmless to humans.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Gravende grondel sourced
English name
Burrowing goby sourced
Scientific name
Croilia mossambica
Family
Gobiidae
Other names
Burrowing Goby; Burrowing goby; Naked goby; Naked Goby verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
6.4 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Euryhaline sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
16.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

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 verified

Status & sources

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

More from the family Gobiidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →