Rock goby
Gobius paganellus · Small fish and rockpool species
Also called goby
A small goby of rocky shores and rockpools, found around UK coasts wherever there is rock. Most records are from the south and west.[1]
How to recognise it
- Two dorsal fins, where blennies have one.[1]
- Pelvic fins fused into a sucker that helps it cling to rock.[1]
- Pale to dark brown with mottling and dark bands; males turn almost black when breeding.[1]
- A light band along the top of the first dorsal fin, bright yellow to orange in males.[2]
- Similar black goby has a much larger first dorsal fin and lives on mud or sand.[2]
When and where
Listed as present all year round; most often seen in rockpools in summer.[1]
Sources
These notes are a draft: we gathered them from the sources above and are still checking them. We don't work out best times for this fish yet. The size rules come from the same checked byelaws as every other fish.