Rock goby facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rock goby |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| In Tuscany, Italy | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Synonyms | |
|
The rock goby (Gobius paganellus) is a small fish that lives near the coast. It is a type of goby fish. You can find rock gobies in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, from Scotland all the way down to Senegal. They also live in the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea. Sometimes, they even travel through the Suez Canal to the Red Sea.
Contents
About the Rock Goby
The rock goby usually looks black with white spots. But these fish can actually change their color! Male gobies become much darker, almost completely black, when they are guarding their eggs.
What Does It Look Like?
The area around the rock goby's neck does not have scales. It also has a light-colored band on top of its first dorsal fin. Both of its dorsal fins (the fins on its back) do not have black spots on their front edges. This fish can grow up to about 12 centimeters (about 4.7 inches) long. Rock gobies can live for a surprisingly long time, sometimes up to ten years!
Where Rock Gobies Live
Rock gobies live in the temperate parts of the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Their home range stretches from western Scotland down to the Azores islands and Senegal. They are also found in most of the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea. As mentioned, they can sometimes travel through the Suez Canal to the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba.
Preferred Habitat
These fish love rocky sea floors. They usually live below the low tide mark, which is the lowest point the water reaches at low tide. However, in summer, you might find them in bigger rock pools. Rock gobies are quite adaptable. They can even live in fresh water or brackish water (water that is a mix of fresh and salt water). You can find them at depths from 0 to 15 meters (0 to 49 feet) underwater.
What Rock Gobies Eat
The rock goby is a carnivore, meaning it eats other small creatures. Its diet includes small crabs and amphipods (tiny shrimp-like creatures). They also eat polychaetes (a type of marine worm), larva (baby insects or other creatures), and small fish. Other tiny things they munch on are Calanus (a type of zooplankton), copepods (tiny crustaceans), and mites.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Rock gobies reproduce in the spring. They build their nests in rocky areas, often close to kelp forests.
Laying and Guarding Eggs
Female rock gobies can lay a lot of eggs, sometimes up to 7,000! These eggs are laid in a single layer, usually under rocks or inside empty shells. The male rock goby is very protective. He aggressively guards the eggs until they hatch. The eggs typically hatch in about 19 days.
