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Shortspine goby (Tridentiger brevispinis) — Gobiidae

Shortspine goby

Tridentiger brevispinis
Family: Gobiidae

The Shortspine goby (Tridentiger brevispinis) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 11 cm.

Length
11 cm
Water
Euryhaline
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: China, Japan, Korea (North), Korea (South), Russia, Kuril Is.
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The shortspine goby is a goby (Gobiidae) from coastal, brackish and fresh water of the northwest Pacific, off East Asia. The species grows to about 11 cm and has a stocky, grey-brown body with dark longitudinal stripes and spots. As a bottom-dweller it lives in river mouths, estuaries and tide pools among stones and plants and snaps at small crustaceans, worms and algae. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Shortspine goby?

The Shortspine goby has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a horizontal stripes pattern.

Where does the Shortspine goby live?

The Shortspine goby lives in both fresh and salt water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Asia: China, Japan, Korea (North), Korea (South), Russia, Kuril Is.

How big does the Shortspine goby get?

The Shortspine goby grows to a maximum of about 11 cm.

Is the Shortspine goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Shortspine 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 Shortspine goby edible?

Yes, the Shortspine goby is commonly eaten.

More photos

Shortspine goby (Tridentiger brevispinis) — Gobiidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) りなべる, some rights reserved (CC BY))
Shortspine goby (Tridentiger brevispinis) — Gobiidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) milesnojiri, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Shortspine goby sourced
Scientific name
Tridentiger brevispinis
Family
Gobiidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
11.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Horizontal stripes sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Euryhaline sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Natural range
Asia: China, Japan, Korea (North), Korea (South), Russia, Kuril Is. 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 Tridentiger

More from the family Gobiidae

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