Yellow-headed goby (Gobius xanthocephalus)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Gobius xanthocephalus
- Common name
- Yellow-headed goby
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Gobiidae
- Genus
- Gobius
- Size
- 5–10 cm
- Depth
- 1–30 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- rocky-reef, seagrass
- Behaviours
- solitary, territorial
- Ocean zones
- East Atlantic, Mediterranean
Description
Gobius xanthocephalus reaches 10 cm. Small Mediterranean and nearby temperate Atlantic goby with stocky red-brown body with distinctive yellow-orange to yellow-green head (hence xanthocephalus, yellow-headed), black peduncle spot. Lives from 1 to 30 m on rocky bottoms, seagrass and coralligenous of Mediterranean and Bay of Biscay. Predator of small invertebrates. Macro photo subject for diversified Gobiidae enthusiasts. Relatively recent species in taxonomic nomenclature.
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Yellow-headed goby?
- Yellow-headed goby (Gobius xanthocephalus) reaches 5–10 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Yellow-headed goby?
- Yellow-headed goby is found between 1–30 m deep.
- Is the Yellow-headed goby dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Yellow-headed goby?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Yellow-headed goby?
- Found in: East Atlantic, Mediterranean.
Other species in the genus Gobius
- Gobius cruentatus - Red-mouthed goby
- Gobius bucchichi - Bucchich's goby
- Gobius vittatus - Striped goby
- Gobius geniporus - Slender 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 126897)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2376555)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia