Home · Gobiidae · Longtail goby
Longtail goby (Ctenogobius sagittula) — Gobiidae

Longtail goby

Ctenogobius sagittula
Family: Gobiidae
LC · Least Concern

The Longtail goby (Ctenogobius sagittula) is a brackish-water fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 20 cm.

Length
20 cm
Water
Brackish
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

Ctenogobius sagittula, the longtail goby, is a goby of the family Gobiidae from coastal waters of the eastern Pacific. The species has an elongate, brownish body with a conspicuously long caudal fin and reaches about 20 cm. It inhabits shallow sand and mud bottoms of bays and estuaries and is an intertidal species that actively shuttles between rock pools. To feed it leaves its pool at low tide, takes a mouthful of mud and returns to wash it out and retain the edible particles. Owing to this peculiar feeding method the species is well adapted to the variable intertidal zone.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Longtail goby?

The Longtail goby has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a marbled pattern.

Where does the Longtail goby live?

The Longtail goby lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Longtail goby get?

The Longtail goby grows to a maximum of about 20 cm.

Is the Longtail goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Longtail goby is harmless to humans.

Is the Longtail goby edible?

The Longtail goby is not usually eaten.

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
Langstaartgrondel sourced
English name
Longtail goby verified
Scientific name
Ctenogobius sagittula
Family
Gobiidae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
20.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Marbled inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Ctenogobius

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 →