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Slender goby (Gobius geniporus) — Gobiidae

Slender goby

Gobius geniporus
Family: Gobiidae
LC · Least Concern

The Slender goby (Gobius geniporus) is a saltwater fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 17 cm.

Length
16.5 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0–30.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The slender goby is a goby of the family Gobiidae reaching about 16 cm and, as the name says, slimmer than most relatives. The light-brown mottled body bears a row of faint dark spots along the flank; like other gobies the pelvic fins are fused into a sucking disc, with which the fish clings to the bottom. The species lives on sand and seagrass bottoms of shallow to moderate water of the Mediterranean and the adjacent eastern Atlantic. On the bottom it hunts small crustaceans, worms and small fish. The male defends a territory and guards the eggs laid under a stone or shell until they hatch. Because of its small size it has no fishery importance.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Slender goby?

The Slender goby has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a marbled pattern.

Where does the Slender goby live?

The Slender goby lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Slender goby get?

The Slender goby grows to a maximum of about 17 cm.

Is the Slender goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Slender goby is harmless to humans.

Is the Slender goby edible?

The Slender goby is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Slanke grondel inferred
English name
Slender goby verified
Scientific name
Gobius geniporus
Family
Gobiidae
Other names
Slender goby verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
16.5 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Marbled 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
Max depth (m)
30.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore verified
Social behaviour
Solitary verified
Territorial
Yes verified
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes verified
Sexual dimorphism
No verified

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten verified
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 verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Gobius

More from the family Gobiidae

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