Animal Profiles
Fish

Goby Fish

Gobiidae

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

Gobies include many small bottom-associated fishes. This account follows the neon goby, a western Atlantic reef fish that feeds by removing parasites from larger fishes.

Neon goby (Elacatinus oceanops), the representative described here.

Neon goby (Elacatinus oceanops), the representative described here.

Jmk7 · CC BY-SA

At a glance

Location
Elacatinus oceanops is the representative here. It occurs from southern Florida and the Gulf of Mexico towards Belize. Coral heads provide sites where larger fishes can visit cleaning stations.
Habitat
Coral reef
Diet
Carnivore
Food
Neon gobies remove external parasites, including those around the mouth and gill chambers of their clients.

Classification

Common name
Goby Fish
Browse group
Fish
Scientific name or taxon
Gobiidae
Taxon rank
family
Order
Perciformes
Family
Gobiidae
Source classification
Actinopterygii

Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.

Three things to know

  • It works as a cleaner fish.
  • A blue stripe runs along its body.
  • Its clients include larger reef fishes.

Habitat and range

Elacatinus oceanops is the representative here. It occurs from southern Florida and the Gulf of Mexico towards Belize. Coral heads provide sites where larger fishes can visit cleaning stations.

Appearance and adaptations

The slender body has a conspicuous lengthwise blue stripe. Its small size allows it to work close to the skin, fins and gills of much larger reef fishes.

Diet and behaviour

Neon gobies remove external parasites, including those around the mouth and gill chambers of their clients. This feeding relationship provides food for the goby while reducing parasites on visiting fishes.

Sources

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