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Frie's goby (Lesueurigobius friesii) — Gobiidae

Frie's goby

Lesueurigobius friesii
Family: Gobiidae
LC · Least Concern

The Frie's goby (Lesueurigobius friesii) is a saltwater fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 13 cm.

Length
13 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
10.0–130.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Northeast Atlantic, the North Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, on silty and muddy bottoms of the continental shelf, where it digs burrows.
Edibility
Not eaten

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Description

Frie's goby is a dainty goby of the family Gobiidae reaching about 13 cm. The yellow-brown body is beautifully marked with blue lines and spots on the head and fins; like other gobies the pelvic fins are fused into a sucking disc. Characteristic is its lifestyle: the species digs burrows on silt and mud bottoms of the continental shelf, in which it shelters. It occurs in the north-eastern Atlantic, the North Sea and the Mediterranean. From its burrow it searches the bottom for small crustaceans and worms. The male defends the burrow and guards the eggs laid in it until they hatch. Because of its small size it has no fishery importance, but it is a strikingly coloured inhabitant of mud bottoms.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Frie's goby?

The Frie's goby has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly yellow-gold and shows a spots pattern. Graceful yellow-brown little goby with blue streaks and blotches on the head and fins; lives in self-dug burrows on silty bottoms.

Where does the Frie's goby live?

The Frie's goby lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Northeast Atlantic, the North Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, on silty and muddy bottoms of the continental shelf, where it digs burrows.

How big does the Frie's goby get?

The Frie's goby grows to a maximum of about 13 cm.

Is the Frie's goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Frie's goby is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Frie's goby edible?

The Frie's goby is not usually eaten.

More photos

Frie's goby (Lesueurigobius friesii) — Gobiidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Emil B, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Frie's goby (Lesueurigobius friesii) — Gobiidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) fishwatchforum, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))

Easily confused with

These species look like the Frie's goby and live in the same waters.

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All data

Identification

English name
Frie's goby verified
Scientific name
Lesueurigobius friesii
Family
Gobiidae
Other names
Fries' goby; Fries's goby verified

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater verified
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom verified
Min depth (m)
10.0 verified
Max depth (m)
130.0 verified
Natural range
Northeast Atlantic, the North Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, on silty and muddy bottoms of the continental shelf, where it digs burrows. verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore verified
Diet (detail)
Small crustaceans and worms from the bottom sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary verified
Territorial
Yes verified
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes verified
Sexual dimorphism
No verified
levensduur_max_jaar
11.0 verified
Seasonality
Lives in self-dug burrows; the male guards the eggs laid in the burrow. sourced
Special features
Graceful yellow-brown little goby with blue streaks and blotches on the head and fins; lives in self-dug burrows on silty bottoms. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten verified
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 verified
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 Lesueurigobius

More from the family Gobiidae

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