BIOTIC Species Information for Pomatoschistus microps
Researched byKaren Riley Data supplied byMarLIN
Refereed byAngus Jackson
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution in Britain & IrelandThe common goby is found along all British and Irish coasts.
Global distribution Its worldwide distribution extends from the Baltic Sea, western Norway to the western Mediterranean.
Biogeographic rangeNot researched Depth rangeDown to 11 m.
MigratorySee additional information   
Distribution Additional InformationPomatoschistus microps is a migratory fish, except where natural or man-made barriers prevent this. In the Atlantic the common goby can migrate for spawning, moving inshore for the breeding season, or to avoid low salinities (Miller, 1975) and temperatures (Nyman, 1953; Jones & Miller, 1966; Araujo et al., 2000).

It can be found down to 11 m in depth but normally occurs at < 1 m. It may also follow the incoming tide up over mudflats. Along the coastline it moves into warmer, deeper water for the duration of winter (Barnes, 1994), in particular when sea temperatures drop below 5 °C, but not where minimum sea temperature is above 7 °C (Miller, 1975).

The common goby lives in estuary channels where current flow can be considerable. In estuaries the it migrates downstream during the breeding season and also with the onset of maturation (Miller, 1975). In the Mediterranean they tend to be less mobile.

Substratum preferencesCoarse clean sand
Fine clean sand
Sandy mud
Muddy sand
Mud
Mixed
Rockpools
Pebbles
Gravel / shingle
Physiographic preferencesOpen coast
Estuary
Enclosed coast / Embayment
Isolated saline water (Lagoon)
Biological zoneSublittoral Fringe
Wave exposureModerately Exposed
Sheltered
Very Sheltered
Extremely Sheltered
Tidal stream strength/Water flowInsufficient information
SalinityLow (<18 psu)
Variable (18-40 psu)
Reduced (18-30 psu)
Habitat Preferences Additional Information
Distribution References Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Fish & Fish, 1996, Hayward et al., 1996, Barnes, 1994, Miller, 1975, Jones & Miller, 1966, Fonds, 1973, Araújo et al., 2000, Nyman, 1953, Eno et al., 1997,
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