Home · Gobiidae · Yellow clown goby
Yellow clown goby (Gobiodon okinawae) — Gobiidae

Yellow clown goby

Gobiodon okinawae
Family: Gobiidae

The Yellow clown goby (Gobiodon okinawae) is a saltwater fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 4 cm.

Length
3.5 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0–15.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The yellow clown goby is a tiny goby (Gobiidae) from the western Pacific. The species grows to about 4 cm and has a stocky, bright-yellow body and a skin with a protective mucus layer. It lives clinging among the branches of living stony coral, especially Acropora, and snaps at small zooplankton and coral mucus. The fish is harmless to humans and is popular in the aquarium trade.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Yellow clown goby?

The Yellow clown goby has a flattened, disc-shaped body and is mainly yellow-gold.

Where does the Yellow clown goby live?

The Yellow clown goby lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Yellow clown goby get?

The Yellow clown goby grows to a maximum of about 4 cm.

Is the Yellow clown goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Yellow clown goby is harmless to humans.

Is the Yellow clown goby edible?

Yes, the Yellow clown goby is commonly eaten.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Gele koraalgrondel sourced
English name
Yellow clown goby sourced
Scientific name
Gobiodon okinawae
Family
Gobiidae
Other names
Okinawa goby; Yellow coral goby; Yellow coral-goby; Yellow-speckled cave-goby verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
3.5 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Yellow / gold sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Max depth (m)
15.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Gobiodon

More from the family Gobiidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →