Giant goby

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Giant goby
Conservation status
Least Concern
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes Family: Gobiidae Genus: Gobius Species: Gobius cobitis

The Giant goby (Gobius cobitis) is a coastal fish of Southern European waters. It is the largest goby found in the British Isles, although there it has only been recorded in Cornwall and the Channel Islands. Its range extends as far south as Agadir in Morocco, and the Mediterranean and Black seas. It is also a Lessepsian migrant in the Gulf of Suez.

[edit] Description

The Giant goby, which grow to 25cm in length, is greyish to olive brown with 'pepper and salt' markings. These are especially notable in smaller specimens. in the breeding season the male is darker than the female. The body is covered in small scales, and the tail stalk is short. the eyes are small. The eyes are small and the tail stalk is short.

It is found in the Littoral zone, among rocks, weeds and rockpools, usually in brackish water.

It feeds on green algae (Enteromorpha), crustaceans (amphipods, crabs), polychaetes and insects.

[edit] References

• IUCN 2007. 2007 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 25 October 2007.