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Allen's shrimpgoby (Tomiyamichthys alleni) — Gobiidae

Allen's shrimpgoby

Tomiyamichthys alleni
Family: Gobiidae

The Allen's shrimpgoby (Tomiyamichthys alleni) is a saltwater fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 4 cm.

Length
3.8 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
15.0–40.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Allen's shrimpgoby is a goby (Gobiidae) from shallow sand and reef water of the western Pacific. The species grows to about 7 cm and has a slender, pale body with fine markings and large pectoral fins. Characteristically it lives in symbiosis with a blind digging shrimp: the shrimp digs and maintains the shared burrow while the sharp-eyed goby stands guard and warns of danger. It eats small zooplankton and invertebrates. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Allen's shrimpgoby?

The Allen's shrimpgoby has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Allen's shrimpgoby live?

The Allen's shrimpgoby lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Allen's shrimpgoby get?

The Allen's shrimpgoby grows to a maximum of about 4 cm.

Is the Allen's shrimpgoby dangerous to humans?

No, the Allen's shrimpgoby is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Allens garnaalgrondel sourced
English name
Allen's shrimpgoby sourced
Scientific name
Tomiyamichthys alleni
Family
Gobiidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
3.8 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
15.0 verified
Max depth (m)
40.0 verified
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

Same genus Tomiyamichthys

More from the family Gobiidae

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