Gobius vittatus

Size range: 4-6cm

Common size: 4-5 cm

Depth range: 20-40 m (range of 15-85m)

Habitat:

  • Hard - mostly coralligenous, mixed rock and sand bottom, characterized by steep or medium slope

Water column position:

  • Benthic

Schooling characteristics:

  • Solitary

Colors & patterns:

  • Pale with dark brown stripe
  • In rare cases the typical pattern is replaced with cross bands
  • Cannot be confused with other gobies, but is somewhat similar in pattern to striped blenny (Parablennius rouxi )

Behavior:

  1. Whether the species is:
  • Reef-associated - related to sites it inhabits

2. Activity:

  • Diurnal

3. Approach:

  • Indifferent - until it retreats to hide

4. Unique behavior:

Often rests in the open next to retreat cavity

5. Feeding characteristic - crustaceavore, omnivore. Gobius vittatus is a carnivore and generalist which feeds on a wide variety of prey items, particularly on polychaetes, gastropods, copepods, ostracods and bivalves

Native/Exotic: Native


EM notes: description of special east Mediterranean characteristics.