Home · Gobiidae · Dog-toothed goby
Dog-toothed goby (Acentrogobius caninus) — Gobiidae

Dog-toothed goby

Acentrogobius caninus
Family: Gobiidae
LC · Least Concern

The Dog-toothed goby (Acentrogobius caninus) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 18 cm.

Length
18.3 cm
Water
Euryhaline
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Venomous / poisonous
Range
Indo-West Pacific; coasts, estuaries and harbours.
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Want the complete picture on the Dog-toothed goby?

Get the app

Description

The tropical sand goby is a goby (Gobiidae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species has an elongate body with a few dark blotches along the flank and a fairly large mouth. It occurs along coastlines and in estuaries and harbours, usually in brackish tidal water on sand and silt bottoms. Bottom-bound, it feeds on small invertebrates and small fishes. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Dog-toothed goby?

The Dog-toothed goby has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern. Dark flank blotches; bottom goby of brackish estuaries, harbours and coastal waters.

Where does the Dog-toothed goby live?

The Dog-toothed goby lives in both fresh and salt water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Indo-West Pacific; coasts, estuaries and harbours.

How big does the Dog-toothed goby get?

The Dog-toothed goby grows to a maximum of about 18 cm.

Is the Dog-toothed goby dangerous to humans?

The Dog-toothed goby is venomous — handle spines with care and seek medical help after a sting if needed. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Dog-toothed goby edible?

The Dog-toothed goby is rarely eaten.

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Dog-toothed goby?

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

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Dog-toothed goby verified
Scientific name
Acentrogobius caninus
Family
Gobiidae
Other names
Dog-toothed goby; Spotted green goby; Tropical sand goby verified

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Euryhaline sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Natural range
Indo-West Pacific; coasts, estuaries and harbours. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small invertebrates and small fishes sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred
Special features
Dark flank blotches; bottom goby of brackish estuaries, harbours and coastal waters. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bottom fishing with natural bait (worm, shrimp or fish) on or just above the seabed. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Venomous / poisonous sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Acentrogobius

More from the family Gobiidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Dog-toothed goby?

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

Get the app →
Is this the Dog-toothed goby? Get the app