Biodiversity & Conservation

Giant goby - Gobius cobitis - General biology

Gobius cobitis

Image Robin Gibson - Gobius cobitis, in a Brittany rockpool. Image width ca 25 cm.
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Distribution map

Gobius cobitis recorded (dark blue bullet) and expected (light blue bullet) distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)

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  • WC_Act_1981

General Biology

Typical Abundance Moderate density
Male size range 8 - 27 cm Male size at maturity 13 cm
Female size range 8 - 27 cm Female size at maturity 12 cm
Growth Form Pisciform
 Growth rate Data deficient
Body Flexibility High (greater than 45 degrees) Mobility Swimmer
Characteristic feeding method Omnivore
 Typically feeds on Crustaceans, polychaetes, small fishes, insects and large amounts of green algae.
Sociability Solitary
 Environmental position Epibenthic
Epifaunal
Supports Independent Is the species toxic? No

Additional information icon Additional information

The feeding habits of Gobius cobitis vary with the size of the animal. Young fish, which measure about 8-9 cm, feed on smaller food items such as copepods, ostracods and small amphipods (Gibson, 1970). As the individual grows it will feed on larger food items until its diet consists of large amounts of green algae, Ulva spp., smaller amounts of crustaceans such as amphipods, crabs, prawns, amphipods, isopods and extremely small amounts of polychaetes and small fishes, particularly juveniles of the blenny, Blennius pholis (Potts & Swaby, 1992). Its longevity is approximately 10 years and the maximum total length reported was 23-27 cm (Potts & Swaby, 1992; Hayward et al., 1996). No difference in longevity has been noticed between sexes (Gibson, 1970).

This review can be cited as follows:

Karen Riley 2005. Gobius cobitis. Giant goby. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 06/09/2010]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/generalbiology.php?speciesID=3396>