Grass goby
A commercial goby of Mediterranean and Black Sea waters.
The grass goby (Gobius ophiocephalus) is a fish found in the Mediterranean Sea, the Sea of Azov, and the Black Sea. It is occasionally placed as the sole species in the genus *Zosterisessor*.
This goby can reach up to 29.9 cm in length. Cycloid scales cover the top of the head, nape, throat, belly, and the bases of the pectoral fins, while the gill covers are bare. The abdominal sucker lacks blades and does not extend to the anus. Its lower jaw is protrusible, and the skin is soft and mucous. The body is green-brown with merging brown spots, and the cheeks have round, light-colored spots. The dorsal, caudal, and pectoral fins show longitudinal brown stripes on a light background; the anal fin and abdominal sucker are dark.
The grass goby is widespread in coastal waters across the Mediterranean basin, with high numbers in the northern Adriatic Sea, the Venetian Lagoon, the Sète Lagoon in France, and throughout the Black Sea—especially in lagoons and estuaries of the northwest, Varna and Burgas Bays, the Sea of Azov, and the Sivash.
Until age two, the diet consists solely of crustaceans; afterward, fish are added. In the Tuzly Lagoons, young fish feed mainly on *Gammarus lacustris* (94%) and *Idotea balthica* (6%), later shifting to fish such as big-scale sand smelt (30%) and other gobies (36%). The shrimp *Palaemon adspersus* is also an important food source.
Off the Crimean coasts, the grass goby hosts about 27 parasite species, with the acanthocephalan *Acanthocephaloides propinquus* being the most common. In the northwestern Black Sea, 13 parasite species are found; besides *A. propinquus*, the acanthocephalan *Telosentis exiguus* is abundant. Both are Mediterranean immigrants, like the grass goby itself. The Ponto-Caspian cestode *Proteocephalus gobiorum* and monogenean *Gyrodactylus proterorhini* are also numerous. In the Budaki Lagoon, the grass goby carries larvae of the epizootic nematode *Streptocara crassicauda*.
The grass goby is preyed upon by commercial fish such as the toad goby, and in the Sea of Azov, it is eaten by the harbour porpoise. It is itself a commercial species in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov, including the Molochnyi Estuary, Tuzly Lagoons, and the Sivash.
Quick Facts
- Taxon
- Gobius ophiocephalus
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The grass goby is widespread in coastal waters of all seas of the Mediterranean basin, especially numerous in the northern Adriatic Sea, Venetian Lagoon, and Sète Lagoon (France), and in the Black Sea near all coasts, particularly in lagoons and estuaries of the north-west, Varna and Burgas Bays, Sea of Azov, and Sivash. Its diet shifts with age: until age two it feeds only on crustaceans, after which it starts to eat fish. In Tuzly Lagoons, juveniles first feed on gammarids Gammarus lacustris (94%) and Idotea balthica (6%), then later on fish such as the big-scale sand smelt (30%) and gobies (36%); shrimp Palaemon adspersus also play an important role.
On the Crimean coasts, the grass goby hosts about 27 parasite species, with the acanthocephalan Acanthocephaloides propinquus most numerous. In the northwestern Black Sea, it has 13 parasite species; besides A. propinquus, the acanthocephalan Telosentis exiguus is very numerous. Both are Mediterranean immigrants, as is the grass goby itself. The Ponto-Caspian cestode Proteocephalus gobiorum and monogenean Gyrodactylus proterorhini are also numerous. In the Budaki Lagoon, the grass goby is a host of larvae of the epizootic nematode Streptocara crassicauda.
Reader's Guide
The grass goby is a commercial fish in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, the Molochnyi Estuary, Tuzly Lagoons, and the Sivash. It is eaten by some commercial fishes, such as the toad goby, and in the Sea of Azov it is used for food by the harbour porpoise. In Venetian cuisine, it is known as pesce gò or ghiozzo, and is the basis for the dish risotto di gò (rixoto de gò in Venetian) or risotto di Burano. The species thus holds both ecological and economic importance within its range, supporting local fisheries and featuring in a traditional regional dish.
Did You Know?
- Grass gobies can grow up to 29.9 cm long.
- Until age two, grass gobies feed only on crustaceans.
- In Venetian cuisine, it is the basis for risotto di gò (rixoto de gò).
More in Wrasses and Gobies 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced