Home · Gobiidae · Patchwork barbelgoby
Patchwork barbelgoby (Gobiopsis arenaria) — Gobiidae

Patchwork barbelgoby

Gobiopsis arenaria
Family: Gobiidae

The Patchwork barbelgoby (Gobiopsis arenaria) is a saltwater fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 2 cm.

Length
1.6 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
5.0–15.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Australia, Brunei Darsm, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Hong Kong, Japan, Ryukyu Is. and others

Want the complete picture on the Patchwork barbelgoby?

Get the app

Description

The patchwork barbelgoby is a tiny goby (Gobiidae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to only about 2 cm and has a stocky, brown-mottled body with small barbels on the head. As a cryptic bottom-dweller it lives on and in sand and rubble bottoms near reefs and snaps at minute bottom life. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Patchwork barbelgoby?

The Patchwork barbelgoby has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Patchwork barbelgoby live?

The Patchwork barbelgoby lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Asia: Australia, Brunei Darsm, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Hong Kong, Japan, Ryukyu Is. and others

How big does the Patchwork barbelgoby get?

The Patchwork barbelgoby grows to a maximum of about 2 cm.

Is the Patchwork barbelgoby dangerous to humans?

No, the Patchwork barbelgoby 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

Patchwork barbelgoby (Gobiopsis arenaria) — Gobiidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Glen Whisson, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Patchwork barbelgoby (Gobiopsis arenaria) — Gobiidae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — Glen Whisson (CC0)
Patchwork barbelgoby (Gobiopsis arenaria) — Gobiidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Glen Whisson, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Patchwork barbelgoby (Gobiopsis arenaria) — Gobiidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) bananyasan_0728, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Patchwork barbelgoby?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Patchwork barbelgoby is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Patchwork barbelgoby sourced
Scientific name
Gobiopsis arenaria
Family
Gobiidae
Other names
Patchwork goby verified

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
5.0 verified
Max depth (m)
15.0 verified
Natural range
Asia: Australia, Brunei Darsm, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Hong Kong, Japan, Ryukyu Is. 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 Gobiopsis

More from the family Gobiidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Patchwork barbelgoby?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Patchwork barbelgoby is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Patchwork barbelgoby? Get the app