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Purple-spotted gudgeon (Mogurnda adspersa) — Eleotridae

Purple-spotted gudgeon

Mogurnda adspersa
Family: Eleotridae

The Purple-spotted gudgeon (Mogurnda adspersa) is a freshwater fish of the family Eleotridae that grows up to 14 cm.

Length
14 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Oceania: Australia

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Description

The purple-spotted gudgeon is a sleeper goby (Eleotridae) from fresh water of eastern Australia. The species grows to about 14 cm and has a stocky, olive-brown body densely scattered with handsome red, purple and blue spots and with dark stripes on the head. As a bottom-oriented ambush hunter it shelters among water plants, stones and roots of slow-flowing streams and pools and seizes small crustaceans, insects and small fish. The fish is harmless to humans and is popular in the aquarium trade.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Purple-spotted gudgeon?

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

Where does the Purple-spotted gudgeon live?

The Purple-spotted gudgeon lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom. Oceania: Australia

How big does the Purple-spotted gudgeon get?

The Purple-spotted gudgeon grows to a maximum of about 14 cm. On average the species is around 7 cm.

Is the Purple-spotted gudgeon dangerous to humans?

No, the Purple-spotted gudgeon 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

Purple-spotted gudgeon (Mogurnda adspersa) — Eleotridae — 2
Sam (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — iNaturalist
Purple-spotted gudgeon (Mogurnda adspersa) — Eleotridae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) rhett_dodd, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Purple-spotted gudgeon (Mogurnda adspersa) — Eleotridae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — User:Haplochromis (CC BY 2.5)
Purple-spotted gudgeon (Mogurnda adspersa) — Eleotridae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Richard Johnson, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Purple-spotted gudgeon sourced
Scientific name
Mogurnda adspersa
Family
Eleotridae
Other names
Southern purplespotted gudgeon verified

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Natural range
Oceania: Australia 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 Mogurnda

More from the family Eleotridae

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