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Golden flathead goby (Glossogobius aureus) — Gobiidae

Golden flathead goby

Glossogobius aureus
Family: Gobiidae
LC · Least Concern

The Golden flathead goby (Glossogobius aureus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 25 cm.

Length
25 cm
Water
Brackish
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Indo-West Pacific
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The golden flathead goby is a goby from the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 25 cm and has an elongate body with a flattened head and a golden-sheened to greyish-brown colour. As a bottom-dweller it lives on sand and mud bottoms of fresh, brackish and coastal water, often in estuaries and rivers, and hunts small crustaceans, worms and fish. It is a local food fish. The IUCN assesses the species as Least Concern (LC).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Golden flathead goby?

The Golden flathead goby has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly yellow-gold and shows a spots pattern. Flattened head and golden sheen; bottom hunter of estuaries

Where does the Golden flathead goby live?

The Golden flathead goby lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Indo-West Pacific

How big does the Golden flathead goby get?

The Golden flathead goby grows to a maximum of about 25 cm. On average the species is around 12 cm.

Is the Golden flathead goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Golden flathead goby is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Golden flathead goby edible?

Yes, the Golden flathead goby is commonly eaten.

More photos

Golden flathead goby (Glossogobius aureus) — Gobiidae — 2
Williams, Jeffrey T. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Golden flathead goby (Glossogobius aureus) — Gobiidae — 3
Williams, Jeffrey T. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Golden flathead goby (Glossogobius aureus) — Gobiidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) C.H.Leung, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Golden flathead goby (Glossogobius aureus) — Gobiidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Tse Chung Yi, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Golden flathead goby sourced
Scientific name
Glossogobius aureus
Family
Gobiidae
Other names
Golden flathead goby; Golden goby; Golden tank goby; Goby verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
25.0 verified
Average length (cm)
12.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Yellow / gold sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Natural range
Indo-West Pacific verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small crustaceans, worms and small fishes inferred
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
Yes sourced
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Bottom-dwelling estuarine goby; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Flattened head and golden sheen; bottom hunter of estuaries sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Nets and handlines sourced
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Glossogobius

More from the family Gobiidae

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