Home · Gobiidae · Pennant goby
Pennant goby (Bollmannia ocellata) — Gobiidae

Pennant goby

Bollmannia ocellata
Family: Gobiidae
LC · Least Concern

The Pennant goby (Bollmannia ocellata) is a saltwater fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 14 cm.

Length
14 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
10.0–120.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Western Atlantic
Edibility
Not eaten

Want the complete picture on the Pennant goby?

Get the app

Description

The pennant goby is a small goby from the western Atlantic, along the coasts of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. The species grows to about 14 cm and has an elongate, pale body with a conspicuous dark eyespot on the first dorsal fin, which it raises like a flag. As a bottom-dweller it lives on sand and mud bottoms and feeds on small crustaceans and worms. The fish is harmless to humans and has no commercial value. The IUCN assesses the species as Least Concern (LC).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Pennant goby?

The Pennant goby has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly white and shows a spots pattern. Dark eyespot on the raised first dorsal fin; bottom-dwelling goby

Where does the Pennant goby live?

The Pennant goby lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Western Atlantic

How big does the Pennant goby get?

The Pennant goby grows to a maximum of about 14 cm.

Is the Pennant goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Pennant goby 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.

Is the Pennant goby edible?

The Pennant goby is not usually eaten.

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Pennant goby?

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

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Pennant goby verified
Scientific name
Bollmannia ocellata
Family
Gobiidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
14.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
White sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
10.0 verified
Max depth (m)
120.0 verified
Natural range
Western Atlantic verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small crustaceans and worms inferred
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Bottom-dwelling coastal goby; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Dark eyespot on the raised first dorsal fin; bottom-dwelling goby sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Not a target species for angling; at most an incidental catch or usable as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
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 Bollmannia

More from the family Gobiidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Pennant goby?

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

Get the app →
Is this the Pennant goby? Get the app