Home · Gobiidae · Largesnout goby
Largesnout goby (Awaous melanocephalus) — Gobiidae

Largesnout goby

Awaous melanocephalus
Family: Gobiidae

The Largesnout goby (Awaous melanocephalus) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 15 cm.

Length
15 cm
Water
Euryhaline
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Solomon Is., Sri Lanka, China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Fiji, India and others
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Want the complete picture on the Largesnout goby?

Get the app

Description

The largesnout goby is a goby (Gobiidae) from fresh and brackish water of lower river reaches in the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 17 cm and has an elongate, sandy-brown body with a broad, fairly large head, a dark crown and fused pelvic fins forming a sucker. As a bottom-dweller it sifts mouthfuls of sand in search of small invertebrates, algae and detritus. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Largesnout goby?

The Largesnout goby has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Largesnout goby live?

The Largesnout goby lives in both fresh and salt water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Asia: Solomon Is., Sri Lanka, China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Fiji, India and others

How big does the Largesnout goby get?

The Largesnout goby grows to a maximum of about 15 cm.

Is the Largesnout goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Largesnout 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 Largesnout goby edible?

Yes, the Largesnout goby is commonly eaten.

More photos

Largesnout goby (Awaous melanocephalus) — Gobiidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) lilyleecc, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Largesnout goby (Awaous melanocephalus) — Gobiidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Tse Chung Yi, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Largesnout goby (Awaous melanocephalus) — Gobiidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Whispers of Aqua, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Largesnout goby (Awaous melanocephalus) — Gobiidae — 5
Williams, Jeffrey T. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Largesnout goby?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Largesnout goby is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Largesnout goby sourced
Scientific name
Awaous melanocephalus
Family
Gobiidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
15.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Euryhaline sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Natural range
Asia: Solomon Is., Sri Lanka, China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Fiji, India and others sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Small fishes, crustaceans and invertebrates inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
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 Awaous

More from the family Gobiidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Largesnout goby?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Largesnout goby is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Largesnout goby? Get the app