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Bluebanded goby (Lythrypnus dalli) — Gobiidae

Bluebanded goby

Lythrypnus dalli
Family: Gobiidae
LC · Least Concern

The Bluebanded goby (Lythrypnus dalli) is a saltwater fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 6 cm.

Length
6.4 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–76.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The bluebanded goby is a small, brightly coloured goby from the eastern Pacific, off California and Mexico. The species grows to about 6 cm and has a fiery red to orange body with a few electric-blue crossbars over the front. As a reef-dweller it lives in crevices and near sea urchins of rocky reefs from the shallows to about seventy-five metres and eats small zooplankton and invertebrates. The fish is harmless to humans and is prized in the aquarium trade.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Bluebanded goby?

The Bluebanded goby has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly red-orange and shows a vertical stripes pattern.

Where does the Bluebanded goby live?

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

How big does the Bluebanded goby get?

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

Is the Bluebanded goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Bluebanded goby is harmless to humans.

Is the Bluebanded goby edible?

The Bluebanded goby is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Blauwband-grondel verified
English name
Bluebanded goby verified
Scientific name
Lythrypnus dalli
Family
Gobiidae
Other names
Catalina goby verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
6.4 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Red / orange sourced
Pattern
Vertical bars 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
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
76.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups sourced
Territorial
Yes sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Simultaneous hermaphrodite sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Geen doelsoort voor de hengelsport; hooguit incidentele vangst of bruikbaar als aasvisje. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Lythrypnus

More from the family Gobiidae

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