Fish
Gudgeon
Gobio gobio
Over the sandy bed of a clear river, a shoal of gudgeon moves slowly along the bottom, their barbels testing the gravel for insect larvae.
Overview
The gudgeon, Gobio gobio, is a Least Concern carp relative of clean rivers and some lakes across Europe and northern Asia. Its barbels, speckled camouflage, and bottom-feeding shoals make it one of the most typical small fish of European rivers.
A fish that feels for its food
The gudgeon’s barbels are packed with taste buds, and help it to find small animals buried in the sand and gravel without having to see them.
Status
Least Concern, widespread and common.
Gudgeon: common questions
What does a gudgeon eat?
It feeds on insect larvae, small crustaceans, snails, and worms picked from the sand and gravel of the bottom.
What are the whiskers on a gudgeon?
It has a pair of short, sensitive barbels at the corners of its mouth, which it uses to feel for food on the bottom.
How big is a gudgeon?
It is usually around 10 to 15 cm long, and rarely more than 20 cm.
Where is the gudgeon found?
It lives in clean rivers and some lakes across Europe and northern Asia.