Black goby

The black goby (Gobius niger) is a species of ray-finned fish found in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea. It inhabits estuaries, lagoons, and inshore water over seagrass and algae. It feeds on a variety of invertebrates and sometimes small fish. This species can also be found in the aquarium trade.

Black goby
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Gobiiformes
Family:	Gobiidae
Genus:	Gobius
Species:	G. niger
Binomial name
Gobius niger Linnaeus, 1758
Synonyms
Gobius jozo Linnaeus, 1758 Gobius niger jozo Linnaeus, 1758 Gobius gorgione Rafinesque, 1810 Gobius viridis A. W. Otto, 1821 Gobius longiradiatus Risso, 1827 Gobius brittanicus W. Thompson, 1837 Gobius fuliginosus McCoy, 1841 Gobius jozo pontica Kessler, 1859 Gobius jozo albescens Canestrini, 1862 Gobius jozo nigrescens Canestrini, 1862 Gobius punctulatus Cocco, 1884–85 Gobius jozo minor Kolombatovic, 1891 Gobius jozo major Kolombatovic, 1891 Gobius niger hispanicus de Buen, 1928 Gobius niger nigerrimus de Buen, 1928

This fish reaches a maximum length of 18 centimetres (7 in) TL. This fish's neck is scaled and both of its dorsal fins have a black spot on the front end.

Description

The black goby is deeper-bodied than the common goby, sand goby and two-spotted goby with a more rounded snout and generally a larger size. It has two dorsal fins that are almost continuous, the anterior one having six spines, which may project from the fin membrane, and the posterior and shorter one having soft rays. The posterior dorsal fin terminates close to the caudal peduncle in contrast to the common and sand gobies where there is a long gap. The pelvic fins are fused. The colour is some shade of dark brown with indistinct black blotches. The colour of the male becomes almost black during the breeding season and his fins become more vivid. The average size of this fish is about 5 to 7 cm (2.0 to 2.8 in)

Distribution and habitat

The black goby is native to shallow waters in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea. Its range extends from Cape Blanc in Mauritania to Trondheim in Norway and the Baltic Sea and it is usually found at depths less than 50 metres (160 ft). Its typical habitat is lagoons, estuaries and inshore waters, on sandy or muddy bottoms and among seagrasses and seaweeds, and it occasionally moves into fresh water.

Behaviour

The black goby feeds on small invertebrates on the seabed. It breeds in the summer at which time the male creates a territory in a shallow weedy area and prepares a nest on a clean piece of seabed. He invites the female to inspect it and if she approves, she lays her eggs there and the male guards them until they hatch.

External links

• Photos of Black goby on Sealife Collection