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Flagfin prawn goby (Mahidolia mystacina) — Gobiidae

Flagfin prawn goby

Mahidolia mystacina
Family: Gobiidae

The Flagfin prawn goby (Mahidolia mystacina) is a brackish-water fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 8 cm.

Length
8 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
5.0–20.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The flagfin prawn goby is a shrimpgoby (Gobiidae) from coastal and brackish water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 8 cm and has a pale to grey-brown body with a high, flag-like first dorsal fin and a large mouth that gives it a smiling appearance. It lives in symbiosis with a burrowing pistol shrimp, which maintains a shared burrow while the goby keeps watch. It eats small zooplankton and bottom life. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Flagfin prawn goby?

The Flagfin prawn goby has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Flagfin prawn goby live?

The Flagfin prawn goby lives in brackish water and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Flagfin prawn goby get?

The Flagfin prawn goby grows to a maximum of about 8 cm.

Is the Flagfin prawn goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Flagfin prawn goby is harmless to humans.

Is the Flagfin prawn goby edible?

Yes, the Flagfin prawn goby is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Vlagvin-garnaalgrondel sourced
English name
Flagfin prawn goby sourced
Scientific name
Mahidolia mystacina
Family
Gobiidae
Other names
Flagfin prawn goby; Flagfin shrimpgoby; Smiling goby verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
8.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
5.0 verified
Max depth (m)
20.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
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

More from the family Gobiidae

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