Identification:
Medium-sized goby (a family of small fishes with a notorious reputation
of being difficult to differentiate, characterised by a pair of dorsal
fins, a pelvic fin fused into a weak suction cup). This is the most striking
of the British species as the orange blotches are conspicuous in contrast
to the coloration of the other species which is usually cryptic to match
a background of rock or sand.
Usually with a blue tinge to the body.
Breeding:
Late spring around the British coasts.
It spawns in late spring. It appears to have a short life span, dying
after spawning, but further observations are necessary to be sure of this.
Habitat:
In rocky areas below low water mark and only
rarely found intertidally in the proximity of deep water. Widespread.
Food:
Small crustaceans like caprellids, worms.
Range:
Off the coasts to the south and west of Britain only. Western English
Channel only.
Now discovered to be found further afield. A recent report from off
Brown's Bay, north of Cullercoats, Tyneside, would indicate they could
be found all around the English coast.
30 August 2010
We were diving at a wreck site known as the Inner Lees, in Strangford
Lough, Northern Ireland, enjoying some amazing marine life. We spotted
two of these fish, which we hadn’t seen before, hiding under the wreck,
near the sea bed. We were struck by the blue colour and the distinct
spots. They were quite large. I have been browsing the internet to
try to identify them and believe they are Leopard-spotted
Gobies. As your website mentions them as located mostly
in the south of England, I thought I’d send you this email to let you know
they were alive and thriving in Northern Ireland!
25 August 2007
About half a dozen or so Leopard-spotted Gobies
were sighted along with some very tiny juveniles at Brown's Bay which is
between Cullercoats and Whitley Bay in North Tyneside.
16 September 2007
Hi ... since you asked (on the Aquarium project)
I will tell. I was fishing a club match with Rhosneigr SAC at 'Llam
Carw' Amlwch North Wales , and due to a twisted ankle I sustained on the
footpaths ... I decided to go fish on the small breakwater they have at
the port mouth. Straight away I was into the mini species on every
cast, which was a little lob of 2-3 yards. A Leopard-spotted Goby
was one of them .... in the picture im sending is top: ls goby middle:
black goby and bottom : sand or common goby ... although the picture doesnt
show it but they were all very close in size. During the weigh in
my leopard spotted showed .03 on the scales and for a brief moment showed
.04 before returning to .03 so I surmised it to be in the high 30s grams
.....After taking the photo's the little blighters were released back into
the harbour :). Imagine me horror when i came home and found the british
record to be 39gms ... which incidentally is held by my work mate R JONES.
Additional Notes:
Only recognised as a common British fish after the popularity of SCUBA
diving. Not nearly as prevalent as most other British gobies.
Information wanted: Please send any records of this fish, with
location, date, who discovered it, how it was identified, and any other
details to
Shorewatch Project
EMail 
Glaucus@hotmail.com.
All messages will receive a reply.
Link: Gobies1.htm
Differences between Blennies & Gobies
Information supplied by Andy Horton |
