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Maindron's goby (Nematogobius maindroni) — Gobiidae

Maindron's goby

Nematogobius maindroni
Family: Gobiidae
LC · Least Concern

The Maindron's goby (Nematogobius maindroni) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 8 cm.

Length
8 cm
Water
Euryhaline
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

Maindron's goby is a small goby of the family Gobiidae reaching about 8 cm. The stout, brownish spotted body has, like other gobies, pelvic fins fused into a sucking disc with which the fish clings to the bottom. The species is euryhaline and lives in brackish estuaries, lagoons and river mouths along the West African coast, from Senegal to Nigeria, where salt and fresh water mix. As a bottom-dweller it hunts small crustaceans, worms and insect larvae. The male defends a territory and guards the eggs laid in a cavity or empty shell until they hatch. Because of its small size and its range outside Europe it is little known here and has no fishery importance.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Maindron's goby?

The Maindron's goby has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Maindron's goby live?

The Maindron's goby lives in both fresh and salt water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Maindron's goby get?

The Maindron's goby grows to a maximum of about 8 cm.

Is the Maindron's goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Maindron's goby is harmless to humans.

Is the Maindron's goby edible?

The Maindron's goby is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Maindrons grondel inferred
English name
Maindron's goby verified
Scientific name
Nematogobius maindroni
Family
Gobiidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
8.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No verified
Dorsal fins
Two separate sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes verified

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Euryhaline verified
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore verified
Social behaviour
Small groups verified
Territorial
Yes verified
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes verified
Sexual dimorphism
No verified

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten verified
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

More from the family Gobiidae

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