Home · Eleotridae · Dwarf African sleeper
Dwarf African sleeper (Kribia nana) — Eleotridae

Dwarf African sleeper

Kribia nana
Family: Eleotridae
LC · Least Concern

The Dwarf African sleeper (Kribia nana) is a freshwater fish of the family Eleotridae that grows up to 6 cm.

Length
5.8 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Freshwater of tropical West and Central Africa, in slow-flowing creeks and swamps.
Edibility
Not eaten

Want the complete picture on the Dwarf African sleeper?

Get the app

Description

Kribia nana is a very small African sleeper goby of the family Eleotridae, occurring in slow-flowing streams and swamps of tropical West and Central Africa. Only a few centimetres long, it has a stocky, brownish body with two dorsal fins and a rounded tail. A bottom dweller, it shelters among water plants and leaf litter and preys on small invertebrates and insect larvae. Owing to its tiny size and secretive habits the species is little studied. It is harmless to people and of no economic importance.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Dwarf African sleeper?

The Dwarf African sleeper has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern. Very small sleeper goby (family Eleotridae) from African creeks; bottom-dweller with two dorsal fins and a rounded tail.

Where does the Dwarf African sleeper live?

The Dwarf African sleeper lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Freshwater of tropical West and Central Africa, in slow-flowing creeks and swamps.

How big does the Dwarf African sleeper get?

The Dwarf African sleeper grows to a maximum of about 6 cm. On average the species is around 3 cm.

Is the Dwarf African sleeper dangerous to humans?

No, the Dwarf African sleeper is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Dwarf African sleeper edible?

The Dwarf African sleeper is not usually eaten.

More photos

Dwarf African sleeper (Kribia nana) — Eleotridae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — Boulenger, George Albert, 1858-1937 (Public domain)
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Dwarf African sleeper?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Dwarf African sleeper is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Dwarf African sleeper inferred
Scientific name
Kribia nana
Family
Eleotridae

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Natural range
Freshwater of tropical West and Central Africa, in slow-flowing creeks and swamps. sourced
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small invertebrates and insect larvae inferred
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Reproduction probably in the rainy season. inferred
Special features
Very small sleeper goby (family Eleotridae) from African creeks; bottom-dweller with two dorsal fins and a rounded tail. inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten inferred
Fishing method
Not a target species for angling; at most an incidental catch or usable as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Kribia

More from the family Eleotridae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Dwarf African sleeper?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Dwarf African sleeper is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Dwarf African sleeper? Get the app