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Blacktip goby (Valenciennea sexguttata) — Gobiidae

Blacktip goby

Valenciennea sexguttata
Family: Gobiidae
LC · Least Concern

The Blacktip goby (Valenciennea sexguttata) is a saltwater fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 14 cm.

Length
14 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
3.0–25.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The sixspot sleeper goby is a goby (Gobiidae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species reaches about 14 cm and has a whitish, silvery body with a row of small blue spots on the head and cheek. It inhabits silty or sandy parts of lagoons and bays and lives monogamously in pairs in a burrow under rocks. Characteristic is its foraging behaviour: it continuously takes mouthfuls of sand and sifts it through the gills to obtain small invertebrates. Sometimes it forms aggregations over large areas in atoll lagoons. Both partners defend the burrow.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Blacktip goby?

The Blacktip goby has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Blacktip goby live?

The Blacktip goby lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Blacktip goby get?

The Blacktip goby grows to a maximum of about 14 cm. On average the species is around 10 cm.

Is the Blacktip goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Blacktip goby is harmless to humans.

Is the Blacktip goby edible?

The Blacktip goby is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Zesstip-slaapgrondel sourced
English name
Blacktip goby verified
Scientific name
Valenciennea sexguttata
Family
Gobiidae
Other names
Goby; Ladder glider; Ladder goby; Sixspot glider goby; Sixspot glidergoby verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
14.0 verified
Average length (cm)
10.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Spots inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
3.0 verified
Max depth (m)
25.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups inferred
Territorial
Yes inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Geen doelsoort voor de hengelsport; hooguit incidentele vangst of bruikbaar als aasvisje. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Valenciennea

More from the family Gobiidae

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