Ice goby facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ice goby |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Leucopsarion
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| Species: |
petersii
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The ice goby (Leucopsarion petersii) is a small, see-through fish. It belongs to the goby family. This fish is special because it's the only species in its group, called Leucopsarion. You can find ice gobies in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. They live near countries like China, Japan, and Korea. In English, it's called the ice goby. In Japanese, it's known as shiro-uo. People in Japan consider it a special food.
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What is the Ice Goby?
The ice goby has a thin body. It looks a bit like a small eel. It can grow up to 13 centimeters (about 5 inches) long. This fish is quite unique. It keeps some features of a baby fish even when it's an adult. This is called neoteny.
Ice gobies do not have scales. Most adult fish have scales. They also have a small swim bladder. This helps them float in water. Their pelvic fins are also quite small. Most other gobies grow longer pelvic fins. The body of the ice goby is clear. You can sometimes see its eggs through its skin.
Where Do Ice Gobies Live?
There are two main groups of ice gobies. One group lives in the Sea of Japan. The other lives in the Pacific Ocean. These groups are linked to ocean currents. The Kuroshio Current and the Tsushima Current affect where they live.
Sometimes, these two groups live in the same areas. When this happens, they can breed together. Ice gobies from the Sea of Japan are usually bigger. They also have more bones in their spine.
Ice Goby Life Cycle and Diet
When ice gobies live in the ocean, they eat tiny ocean plants and animals. These are called plankton. The ice goby is an anadromous fish. This means it travels from the ocean to fresh water.
They go into rivers to lay their eggs. This is called spawning. While in the river, they do not eat. After they lay their eggs, the adult fish die.
Ice Goby as Food
The ice goby is a popular food fish. People in South Korea and Japan enjoy eating it. It can be quite expensive. It is often eaten raw. Sometimes, it is even eaten alive. This is a special way of eating called odorigui.
What Does the Name Mean?
The scientific name for the ice goby is Leucopsarion petersii. The first part, Leucopsarion, comes from Greek words. Leukos means "white." This refers to the fish's clear body. Opsarion means "fish eaten with bread." This is similar to its Japanese name, Shiri-uwo.
The second part of the name, petersii, honors a person. It is named after Wilhelm Peters. He was a German explorer and naturalist. He helped publish the first description of this fish.
See also
In Spanish: Leucopsarion petersii para niños
