Sand goby

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For other uses, see Sand goby.

Sand goby

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Gobiiformes
Family: Gobiidae
Genus: Pomatoschistus
Species:
P. minutus
Binomial name
Pomatoschistus minutus
(Pallas, 1770)
Synonyms
  • Gobius minutus Pallas, 1770
  • Pomatoschistus minutus minutus (Pallas, 1770)
  • Gobius gracilis
    Jenyns
    , 1835
  • Gobius unipunctatus Parnell, 1838
  • Gobius ekstromii Günther, 1861
  • Gobius elongatus Canestrini, 1862
  • Pomatoschistus minutus elongatus (Canestrini, 1862)
  • Gobius gracilis Cabrera, Pérez & Haenseler, 1868
  • Gobius cobitiformis
    Kessler
    , 1874
  • Gobius taalmankipii
    Hubrecht
    , 1878
  • Gobius minutus major Heincke, 1880
  • Gobius minutus guitelli É. Le Danois, 1913

The sand goby (Pomatoschistus minutus), also known as a polewig[2] or pollybait,[2] is a species of ray-finned fish native to marine and brackish European waters from the Baltic Sea through the Mediterranean Sea and into the Black Sea where it occurs in sandy or muddy areas of inshore waters at depths of from 4 to 200 metres (13 to 656 ft). This species can reach a length of 11 centimetres (4.3 in) TL. This species is sometimes kept in public aquariums.[3] The sand goby is of a sandy colour, with darker markings on the sides and a creamy-white underside. In the breeding season the male fish has blue spot at the rear of the first dorsal fin, ringed with white. The fish has a slender body, and the head is about a quarter of the total length.

Description

The sand goby has two dorsal fins with a wider gap between them than the

caudal peduncle. The general colour is sandy brown with indistinct dark blotches and reticulations on the dorsal surface and dark striations on the pale fins. The colour of the male darkens during the breeding season and his fins become more coloured. The average size is about 4 to 5 cm (1.6 to 2.0 in).[4]

Behaviour

The sand goby normally lives at greater depths than the common goby. It feeds on small

amphipods. It is well camouflaged and lies motionless on the bottom waiting for its prey to approach. It breeds in the summer, the male building a nest usually under a shell (which can be turned over if necessary). The female lays the eggs on the underside of this.[4]

References

  1. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T198668A45109442.en
    . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Polewig" and "pollybait" in Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
  3. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2013). "Pomatoschistus minutus" in FishBase. June 2013 version.
  4. ^ a b "Sand goby: Pomatoschistus minutus (Pallas)". NatureGate. Retrieved 2013-12-18.
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