Rock goby

Taxobox
name = Rock goby


regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Perciformes
familia = Gobiidae
genus = "Gobius"
species = "Gobius paganellus"
Linnaeus 1758

The rock goby is a small coastal fish of eastern Atlantic waters, from Scotland to Senegal. It is also reported from the Mediterranean and Black Seas, and is a Lessepsian migrant in the Gulf of Eilat and Red Sea. There are unconfirmed records from the area around Pointe Noire in the Congo Republic.

Description

The rock goby is usually black with white blotches - although the male is much more black when guarding the eggs. There is a pale band on the top of first dorsal fin. The rock goby grows to 12cm in length.

Habitat

The rock goby prefers rocky sea floors below the low tidemark, although it can be found in larger rock pools in Summer. It may also live in fresh or brackish water. Its usual depth range is from 3 to 15 metres.

Behaviour

The rock goby eats small crabs and amphipods, polychaetes, larvae and small fish. The juvenile diet includes "Calanus", a copepod, and mites.

Reproduction

The rock goby reproduces in Spring. It nests in rocky areas near the kelp forest, Up to 7000 eggs are laid, in a single layer, under rocks and shells. The eggs (up to 7000) are laid in a single layer (2.5 mm in height) and guarded aggressively by the male. The eggs hatch in about 19 days.