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Striped goby (Gobius vittatus) — Gobiidae

Striped goby

Gobius vittatus
Family: Gobiidae
LC · Least Concern

The Striped goby (Gobius vittatus) is a saltwater fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 6 cm.

Length
5.8 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
15.0–85.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The striped goby is a small, striking goby of the family Gobiidae reaching about 6 cm. A sharp black lengthwise stripe runs over the pale body from the snout through the eye to the tail, making the species unmistakable; like other gobies the pelvic fins are fused into a sucking disc. The species lives on shaded rocky bottoms and near cave entrances of the Mediterranean, especially the Adriatic Sea, in shallow to moderate water. On the bottom it searches for small crustaceans and invertebrates. The male defends a territory and guards the eggs laid in a crevice or cavity until they hatch. Because of its conspicuous stripe and calm behaviour it is a favourite subject for underwater photographers.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Striped goby?

The Striped goby has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly white and shows a horizontal stripes pattern.

Where does the Striped goby live?

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

How big does the Striped goby get?

The Striped goby grows to a maximum of about 6 cm.

Is the Striped goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Striped goby is harmless to humans.

Is the Striped goby edible?

The Striped goby is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Gestreepte grondel inferred
English name
Striped goby verified
Scientific name
Gobius vittatus
Family
Gobiidae
Other names
Striped goby verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
5.8 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
White sourced
Pattern
Horizontal stripes 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
Stone or rock verified
Min depth (m)
15.0 verified
Max depth (m)
85.0 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
Geen doelsoort voor de hengelsport; hooguit incidentele vangst of bruikbaar als aasvisje. 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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