Biodiversity & Conservation

Sand goby - Pomatoschistus minutus - General information

Pomatoschistus minutus

Image Charlotte Johnston - Top view of entire individual on sand. Image width ca 6 cm.
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Distribution map

Pomatoschistus minutus recorded (dark blue bullet) and expected (light blue bullet) distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)

Why do the maps differ?

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  • Berne

General information

Key Icon Researched by: Karen Riley Text page icon Refereed by: Dr Angus Jackson

Taxonomy icon Taxonomy

Phylum Chordata Sea squirts, fish, reptiles, birds and mammals
Class Actinopterygii Ray-finned fish, e.g. sturgeon, eels, fin fish, gobies, blennies, and seahorses
Map icon Recorded distribution in Britain and Ireland The sand goby is abundant along all British and Irish coasts.
Habitat information icon Habitat information Pomatoschistus minutus is found on sandy or muddy bottoms usually to a depth of about 20 m, but sometimes occurring up to 60-70 m depths. They are usually present in estuaries, lagoons, salt marshes and along coastal waters.
Text page icon Description The sand goby is a small goby, reaching a maximum of 10 cm in length. It has a slender body and the head is about a quarter of the total length. It is pale brown or grey in colour with darker markings on the sides. The underside is creamy-white in colour. Males often have a prominent dark blue spot on the rear of the first dorsal fin.

This review can be cited as follows:

Karen Riley 2007. Pomatoschistus minutus. Sand goby. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 23/05/2013]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/speciesfullreview.php?speciesID=4182>