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Blind goby (Paratrypauchen microcephalus) — Gobiidae

Blind goby

Paratrypauchen microcephalus
Family: Gobiidae
LC · Least Concern

The Blind goby (Paratrypauchen microcephalus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 18 cm.

Length
18 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
0.0–10.0 m
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The comb goby is an eel-like goby (Gobiidae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species reaches about 18 cm and has an elongate, reddish body with a small head and strongly reduced eyes, an adaptation to life in dark mud burrows. It inhabits soft mud bottoms and river mouths near mangrove forests, where it digs burrows in the mud or in shingle areas. As an omnivore it feeds on bottom invertebrates such as crustaceans. Through its hidden, burrowing habits the species is little noticed.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Blind goby?

The Blind goby has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly red-orange and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Blind goby live?

The Blind goby lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Blind goby get?

The Blind goby grows to a maximum of about 18 cm. On average the species is around 12 cm.

Is the Blind goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Blind goby is harmless to humans.

Is the Blind goby edible?

The Blind goby is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Kleinkop-moddergrondel sourced
English name
Blind goby verified
Scientific name
Paratrypauchen microcephalus
Family
Gobiidae
Other names
Blind goby; Comb goby verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
18.0 verified
Average length (cm)
12.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Red / orange inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
10.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. 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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