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Lobe-jawed goby (Pseudapocryptes elongatus) — Gobiidae

Lobe-jawed goby

Pseudapocryptes elongatus
Family: Gobiidae

The Lobe-jawed goby (Pseudapocryptes elongatus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 20 cm.

Length
20 cm
Water
Brackish
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Bangladesh, Myanmar, Cambodia, China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Tahiti and others
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The lobe-jawed goby is a goby relative (Oxudercidae) from tidal and mangrove areas of South and Southeast Asia. The species grows to about 20 cm and has a strongly elongate, pale body with high-set eyes. Unlike true mudskippers it mostly stays in shallow water and self-dug burrows of muddy estuaries and rice paddies and snaps at diatoms, detritus and small bottom life. It is a local food fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Lobe-jawed goby?

The Lobe-jawed goby has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly white.

Where does the Lobe-jawed goby live?

The Lobe-jawed goby lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Asia: Bangladesh, Myanmar, Cambodia, China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Tahiti and others

How big does the Lobe-jawed goby get?

The Lobe-jawed goby grows to a maximum of about 20 cm.

Is the Lobe-jawed goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Lobe-jawed 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 Lobe-jawed goby edible?

Yes, the Lobe-jawed goby is commonly eaten.

More photos

Lobe-jawed goby (Pseudapocryptes elongatus) — Gobiidae — 2
NHM (CC BY 4.0) via GBIF — NHMO
Lobe-jawed goby (Pseudapocryptes elongatus) — Gobiidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Axl P., some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Lobe-jawed goby (Pseudapocryptes elongatus) — Gobiidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Jiayuan Lin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Lobe-jawed goby (Pseudapocryptes elongatus) — Gobiidae — 5
Wikimedia Commons — Bloch, Marcus Elieser; Hennig, J. F.; Schneider, Johann Gottlob (Public domain) [illustratie]
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All data

Identification

English name
Lobe-jawed goby sourced
Scientific name
Pseudapocryptes elongatus
Family
Gobiidae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
20.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
White sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Natural range
Asia: Bangladesh, Myanmar, Cambodia, China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Tahiti 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
Bottom fishing with natural bait (worm, shrimp or fish) on or just above the seabed. 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

More from the family Gobiidae

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