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Broadhead sleeper (Eleotris fusca) — Eleotridae

Broadhead sleeper

Eleotris fusca
Family: Eleotridae
LC · Least Concern

The Broadhead sleeper (Eleotris fusca) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Eleotridae that grows up to 26 cm.

Length
26 cm
Water
Euryhaline
Depth
0.0–5.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The dusky sleeper is a sleeper goby (family Eleotridae) of the Indo-Pacific. The species reaches about 26 cm and has an elongate, dark brown body with a blunt head. Adults inhabit lagoons, estuaries and the lower reaches of freshwater streams, usually on mud bottoms, while juveniles live among vegetation; the species tolerates fresh, brackish and salt water. It is a nocturnal ambush predator that hunts small fishes, crustaceans and insects. The species is of modest commercial value and is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Broadhead sleeper?

The Broadhead sleeper has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Broadhead sleeper live?

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

How big does the Broadhead sleeper get?

The Broadhead sleeper grows to a maximum of about 26 cm.

Is the Broadhead sleeper dangerous to humans?

No, the Broadhead sleeper is harmless to humans.

Is the Broadhead sleeper edible?

The Broadhead sleeper is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Donkere slaapgrondel sourced
English name
Broadhead sleeper verified
Scientific name
Eleotris fusca
Family
Eleotridae
Other names
Brown gudgeon verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
26.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Plain 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
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
5.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely 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 Eleotris

More from the family Eleotridae

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