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Small-scaled spinycheek sleeper (Eleotris pisonis) — Eleotridae

Small-scaled spinycheek sleeper

Eleotris pisonis
Family: Eleotridae
LC · Least Concern

The Small-scaled spinycheek sleeper (Eleotris pisonis) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Eleotridae that grows up to 25 cm.

Length
25 cm
Water
Euryhaline
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

Eleotris pisonis is a sleeper goby of the family Eleotridae from coastal waters and estuaries of tropical America. The species has an elongate, dark body with a flattened head and a spine on the cheek, and reaches about 25 cm. It tolerates strongly varying salinities and prefers estuarine freshwater tributaries with muddy or sandy bottoms. The diet consists of dipteran larvae, crustaceans such as crabs and shrimps, and small fishes, and changes with season and age. The gonads develop during the dry season.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Small-scaled spinycheek sleeper?

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

Where does the Small-scaled spinycheek sleeper live?

The Small-scaled spinycheek sleeper lives in both fresh and salt water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Small-scaled spinycheek sleeper get?

The Small-scaled spinycheek sleeper grows to a maximum of about 25 cm. On average the species is around 13 cm.

Is the Small-scaled spinycheek sleeper dangerous to humans?

No, the Small-scaled spinycheek sleeper is harmless to humans.

Is the Small-scaled spinycheek sleeper edible?

The Small-scaled spinycheek sleeper is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Stekelwang-slaapgrondel sourced
English name
Small-scaled spinycheek sleeper verified
Scientific name
Eleotris pisonis
Family
Eleotridae
Other names
Spinycheek sleeper; Spinycheek Sleeper verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
25.0 verified
Average length (cm)
12.5 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

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

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No 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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