The Black Goby (Gobius niger) is a marine (saltwater) ray-finned fish in the Gobiidae family of gobies.
The Black Goby is mottled-black with large scales around its neck. In the breeding season, the male becomes very black. It has a black spot on the front end of its dorsal (back) fins. It has an elongated shape with a rounded snout (nose). It has two dorsal fins that are almost continuous and looks like one fin. The dorsal fin closest to the tail has 6 spines. It has bulging eyes.
It grows to 18 centimetres (7 inches) in length.
It is found in the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Black Sea. It prefers tropical reefs, lagoons, estuaries, and inshore waters with seagrass and algae.
It prefers muddy or sandy sea bottoms. It is benthic because it lives on the bottom of the ocean.
The Black Goby feeds on invertebrates and small fish.
It makes a nest in rocky areas near seaweed and seagrass. The female lays up to 7,000 eggs under rocks and shells. The male guards the eggs until they hatch after about 19 days.
It lives, on average, for 10 years.
Location of photographs: Aquarium de Paris-Cinéaqua, France
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM