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Purple-spotted gudgeon (Mogurnda adspersa) — Eleotridae

Purple-spotted gudgeon

Mogurnda adspersa
Family: Eleotridae

The Purple-spotted gudgeon (Mogurnda adspersa) is a freshwater fish of the family Eleotridae that grows up to 14 cm.

Length
14 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The purple-spotted gudgeon is a sleeper goby (Eleotridae) from fresh water of eastern Australia. The species grows to about 14 cm and has a stocky, olive-brown body densely scattered with handsome red, purple and blue spots and with dark stripes on the head. As a bottom-oriented ambush hunter it shelters among water plants, stones and roots of slow-flowing streams and pools and seizes small crustaceans, insects and small fish. The fish is harmless to humans and is popular in the aquarium trade.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Purple-spotted gudgeon?

The Purple-spotted gudgeon has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Purple-spotted gudgeon live?

The Purple-spotted gudgeon lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom.

How big does the Purple-spotted gudgeon get?

The Purple-spotted gudgeon grows to a maximum of about 14 cm. On average the species is around 7 cm.

Is the Purple-spotted gudgeon dangerous to humans?

No, the Purple-spotted gudgeon is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Paarsvlek-slaapgrondel sourced
English name
Purple-spotted gudgeon sourced
Scientific name
Mogurnda adspersa
Family
Eleotridae
Other names
Southern purplespotted gudgeon verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
14.0 verified
Average length (cm)
7.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
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 Mogurnda

More from the family Eleotridae

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