Striped goby (Gobius vittatus)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Gobius vittatus
- Common name
- Striped goby
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Gobiidae
- Genus
- Gobius
- Size
- 4–7 cm
- Depth
- 5–40 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- rocky-reef, cave
- Behaviours
- solitary, cryptic
- Ocean zones
- East Atlantic, Macaronesia, Mediterranean
Description
Gobius vittatus reaches 7 cm. Small Mediterranean goby with thin elongated red-orange to vivid pink body with distinctive longitudinal black-white line from snout to tail (hence vittatus, striped). More orange head. Lives from 5 to 40 m in caves, overhangs and rocky cracks of Mediterranean. Cryptic, perched motionless on walls. Sought-after macro photo subject for vivid colors and distinctive line pattern. Rarer to observe than other Gobius.
Photo of Striped goby
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Striped goby?
- Striped goby (Gobius vittatus) reaches 4–7 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Striped goby?
- Striped goby is found between 5–40 m deep.
- Is the Striped goby dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Striped goby?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Striped goby?
- Found in: East Atlantic, Macaronesia, Mediterranean.
Other species in the genus Gobius
- Gobius cruentatus - Red-mouthed goby
- Gobius bucchichi - Bucchich's goby
- Gobius geniporus - Slender goby
- Gobius xanthocephalus - Yellow-headed goby
Other species in the family Gobiidae
- Elacatinus randalli - Yellowprow goby
- Elacatinus genie - Cleaning goby
- Coryphopterus glaucofraenum - Bridled goby
- Gnatholepis thompsoni - Goldspot goby
- Elacatinus evelynae - Sharknose goby
- Priolepis hipoliti - Rusty goby
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 126896)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2376545)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia