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Burrowing goby (Trypauchen vagina) — Gobiidae

Burrowing goby

Trypauchen vagina
Family: Gobiidae
LC · Least Concern

The Burrowing goby (Trypauchen vagina) is a brackish-water fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 22 cm.

Length
22 cm
Water
Brackish
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The burrowing goby is a goby (Gobiidae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species has an elongate, eel-like, pinkish-red body with greatly reduced eyes and a continuous fin margin, adapted to a burrowing life. It is common in coastal zones and lives along the bottom in tidal rivers and estuaries, where it stays in self-dug tunnels in the mud. It feeds on small bottom life and detritus. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Burrowing goby?

The Burrowing goby has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly red-orange and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Burrowing goby live?

The Burrowing goby lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Burrowing goby get?

The Burrowing goby grows to a maximum of about 22 cm.

Is the Burrowing goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Burrowing goby is harmless to humans.

Is the Burrowing goby edible?

The Burrowing goby is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Burcht-grondel sourced
English name
Burrowing goby verified
Scientific name
Trypauchen vagina
Family
Gobiidae
Other names
Burrowing goby verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
22.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Red / orange inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

More from the family Gobiidae

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