Gobius bucchichi

Size range: 8-10cm

Common size: 8-9cm

Depth range: 0.5-3m (range 0-30m)

Habitat:

• Hard - rocky, also or tide pools
• Soft - sand or muddy substrate with seagrass patches

Water column position:

• Benthic

Schooling characteristics:

• Solitary

Colors & patterns:

• Two indistinct dark lines, one on each side of head, crossing eye and meeting V-like on snout
• Numerous brown-black longitudinal spots
• Row of wider dark dashed on sides
• Pale-beige color
• Male with higher dorsal fin and less contrasting colors

Behavior:

1. Whether the species is:

• Reef-associated - related to sites it inhabits

2. Activity:

• Diurnal

3. Approach:

• Indifferent - escapes when approached too closely

4. Unique behavior:

Often associated with anemones (Anemonia virids). Juveniles may hide in sea urchins.

5. Feeding characteristic - omnivore, polychaete worms, amphipods, molluscs and algae.

Native/Exotic: Native

EM notes: description of special east Mediterranean characteristics.