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Pallid sandgoby (Fusigobius pallidus) — Gobiidae

Pallid sandgoby

Fusigobius pallidus
Family: Gobiidae

The Pallid sandgoby (Fusigobius pallidus) is a saltwater fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 6 cm.

Length
6.4 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
10.0–48.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Indonesia, Maldives, New Caledonia, Marshall Is., Palau, Philippines and others

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Description

The pallid sandgoby is a goby (Gobiidae) from clear sand and rubble water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 6 cm and has a slender, pale, semi-translucent body with fine spots and fused pelvic fins forming a sucker. As a bottom-dweller it sits on sand flats by coral and rubble and takes mouthfuls of sand to sift out small invertebrates. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Pallid sandgoby?

The Pallid sandgoby has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly white and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Pallid sandgoby live?

The Pallid sandgoby lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Asia: Indonesia, Maldives, New Caledonia, Marshall Is., Palau, Philippines and others

How big does the Pallid sandgoby get?

The Pallid sandgoby grows to a maximum of about 6 cm.

Is the Pallid sandgoby dangerous to humans?

No, the Pallid sandgoby 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.

More photos

Pallid sandgoby (Fusigobius pallidus) — Gobiidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Pierre Pericard, some rights reserved (CC BY))
Pallid sandgoby (Fusigobius pallidus) — Gobiidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Franca Wermuth, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Pallid sandgoby (Fusigobius pallidus) — Gobiidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) tony rebelo, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Pallid sandgoby (Fusigobius pallidus) — Gobiidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) jeyre, some rights reserved (CC BY))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Pallid sandgoby sourced
Scientific name
Fusigobius pallidus
Family
Gobiidae
Other names
Pale sandgoby sourced

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
6.4 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
White inferred
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
10.0 verified
Max depth (m)
48.0 verified
Natural range
Asia: Indonesia, Maldives, New Caledonia, Marshall Is., Palau, Philippines 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

Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish. 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

Same genus Fusigobius

More from the family Gobiidae

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