Home · Gobiidae · Sphinx goby
Sphinx goby (Amblygobius sphynx) — Gobiidae

Sphinx goby

Amblygobius sphynx
Family: Gobiidae

The Sphinx goby (Amblygobius sphynx) is a brackish-water fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 18 cm.

Length
18 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
1.0–20.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Africa: Australia, Comoros, Indonesia, Japan, Madagascar, Mauritius and others
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Want the complete picture on the Sphinx goby?

Get the app

Description

The sphinx goby is a goby (Gobiidae) from coastal and brackish water of the western Pacific. The species grows to about 18 cm and has an elongate, brownish body with fine bars and spots and a tall first dorsal fin. As a bottom-dweller it lives in pairs on sand and rubble bottoms of shallow reefs and lagoons, digs burrows under stones and sifts mouthfuls of sand, filtering out small invertebrates and algae. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Sphinx goby?

The Sphinx goby has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Sphinx goby live?

The Sphinx goby lives in brackish water and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Africa: Australia, Comoros, Indonesia, Japan, Madagascar, Mauritius and others

How big does the Sphinx goby get?

The Sphinx goby grows to a maximum of about 18 cm.

Is the Sphinx goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Sphinx 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 Sphinx goby edible?

Yes, the Sphinx goby is commonly eaten.

More photos

Sphinx goby (Amblygobius sphynx) — Gobiidae — 2
SAIAB (CC BY 4.0) via GBIF — SAIAB
Sphinx goby (Amblygobius sphynx) — Gobiidae — 3
Randall, John E. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Sphinx goby (Amblygobius sphynx) — Gobiidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Andy, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Sphinx goby (Amblygobius sphynx) — Gobiidae — 5
Wikimedia Commons — Rickard Zerpe (CC BY 2.0)
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Sphinx goby?

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

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Sphinx goby sourced
Scientific name
Amblygobius sphynx
Family
Gobiidae
Other names
Sphinx goby; Sphynx goby verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
18.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Dorsal fins
Two separate sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
20.0 verified
Natural range
Africa: Australia, Comoros, Indonesia, Japan, Madagascar, Mauritius 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
Fishing with natural bait (fish, shrimp, worm) or lures close to reef and rock structures. 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 Amblygobius

More from the family Gobiidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Sphinx goby?

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

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