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Bighead gudgeon (Philypnodon grandiceps) — Eleotridae

Bighead gudgeon

Philypnodon grandiceps
Family: Eleotridae

The Bighead gudgeon (Philypnodon grandiceps) is a brackish-water fish of the family Eleotridae that grows up to 12 cm.

Length
12 cm
Water
Brackish
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The bighead gudgeon is a sleeper goby (Eleotridae) from fresh and brackish water of southeastern Australia. The species grows to about 12 cm and has a stocky, brown-speckled body with a conspicuously large, broad head. As a bottom-oriented ambush hunter it shelters among water plants, stones and wood of slow-flowing streams, pools and estuaries and seizes small crustaceans, insects and small fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Bighead gudgeon?

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

Where does the Bighead gudgeon live?

The Bighead gudgeon lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Bighead gudgeon get?

The Bighead gudgeon grows to a maximum of about 12 cm. On average the species is around 8 cm.

Is the Bighead gudgeon dangerous to humans?

No, the Bighead gudgeon is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Dikkop-slaapgrondel sourced
English name
Bighead gudgeon sourced
Scientific name
Philypnodon grandiceps
Family
Eleotridae
Other names
Bull head; Bull-headed gudgeon; Collundera; Flathead gudgeon; Flat-headed gudgeon verified

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

More from the family Eleotridae

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