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Yellow prawn-goby (Cryptocentrus cinctus) — Gobiidae

Yellow prawn-goby

Cryptocentrus cinctus
Family: Gobiidae

The Yellow prawn-goby (Cryptocentrus cinctus) is a saltwater fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 10 cm.

Length
10 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–25.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Australia, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Ryukyu Is. and others
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The yellow prawn-goby is a goby (Gobiidae) from coastal waters of the western Pacific. The species grows to about 10 cm and is yellow or grey with fine blue spots. It lives in symbiosis with a near-blind digging shrimp: the shrimp builds and maintains a shared burrow while the sharp-eyed goby stands guard and warns of danger. It snaps at small zooplankton and invertebrates. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Yellow prawn-goby?

The Yellow prawn-goby has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly yellow-gold.

Where does the Yellow prawn-goby live?

The Yellow prawn-goby lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Asia: Australia, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Ryukyu Is. and others

How big does the Yellow prawn-goby get?

The Yellow prawn-goby grows to a maximum of about 10 cm.

Is the Yellow prawn-goby dangerous to humans?

No, the Yellow prawn-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 Yellow prawn-goby edible?

Yes, the Yellow prawn-goby is commonly eaten.

More photos

Yellow prawn-goby (Cryptocentrus cinctus) — Gobiidae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — Brian Jeffery Beggerly from S'pore (CC BY 2.0)
Yellow prawn-goby (Cryptocentrus cinctus) — Gobiidae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — User:Haplochromis (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Yellow prawn-goby (Cryptocentrus cinctus) — Gobiidae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — User:Haplochromis (CC BY-SA 3.0)
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All data

Identification

English name
Yellow prawn-goby sourced
Scientific name
Cryptocentrus cinctus
Family
Gobiidae
Other names
Yellow prawn-goby; Yellow shrimp goby; Yellow Shrimpgoby; Yellow shrimp-goby; Banded prawn goby verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
10.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Yellow / gold sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
25.0 verified
Natural range
Asia: Australia, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Ryukyu Is. 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
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 Cryptocentrus

More from the family Gobiidae

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