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Cardinal goby (Kelloggella cardinalis) — Gobiidae

Cardinal goby

Kelloggella cardinalis
Family: Gobiidae

The Cardinal goby (Kelloggella cardinalis) is a saltwater fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 3 cm.

Length
2.5 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–2.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The cardinal goby is a tiny goby (Gobiidae) from tidal zones of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to only about 3 cm and has a stocky, reddish-speckled body. As a hardy bottom-dweller it lives in shallow tide pools of rocky and coral shores, where it tolerates strongly fluctuating conditions, and snaps at small bottom life and algae. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Cardinal goby?

The Cardinal goby has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly red-orange and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Cardinal goby live?

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

How big does the Cardinal goby get?

The Cardinal goby grows to a maximum of about 3 cm.

Is the Cardinal goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Cardinal goby is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Kardinaal-grondel sourced
English name
Cardinal goby sourced
Scientific name
Kelloggella cardinalis
Family
Gobiidae
Other names
Cardinal goby; Tidepool goby verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
2.5 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Red / orange sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
2.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

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 Kelloggella

More from the family Gobiidae

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