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Scribbled goby (Awaous grammepomus) — Gobiidae

Scribbled goby

Awaous grammepomus
Family: Gobiidae

The Scribbled goby (Awaous grammepomus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 15 cm.

Length
15 cm
Water
Brackish
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, China, India, Indonesia and others
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The scribbled goby is a goby (Gobiidae) from fresh and brackish water of lower river reaches in the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 15 cm and has an elongate, sandy body with a fine scribbled pattern of brown spots and lines and fused pelvic fins forming a sucker. As a bottom-dweller it sifts mouthfuls of sand in search of small invertebrates, algae and detritus. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Scribbled goby?

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

Where does the Scribbled goby live?

The Scribbled goby lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Asia: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, China, India, Indonesia and others

How big does the Scribbled goby get?

The Scribbled goby grows to a maximum of about 15 cm.

Is the Scribbled goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Scribbled 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 Scribbled goby edible?

Yes, the Scribbled goby is commonly eaten.

More photos

Scribbled goby (Awaous grammepomus) — Gobiidae — 2
Naturalis Biodiversity Center (CC0 1.0) via GBIF
Scribbled goby (Awaous grammepomus) — Gobiidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Arkanniti Dibyawedha Adisajjana, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Scribbled goby (Awaous grammepomus) — Gobiidae — 4
Arkanniti Dibyawedha Adisajjana (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — iNaturalist
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Scribbled goby sourced
Scientific name
Awaous grammepomus
Family
Gobiidae
Other names
Scribbled goby verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
15.0 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
Natural range
Asia: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, China, India, Indonesia 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

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
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 Awaous

More from the family Gobiidae

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