Fish
Sand Goby
Pomatoschistus minutus
On a sandy flat at low water, a sand goby sits pale and speckled on the bottom, almost invisible until it darts away.
Overview
The sand goby, Pomatoschistus minutus, is a Least Concern goby of sandy shallows and estuaries around Europe. Its sand-coloured camouflage, short life, and shell-roofed nest make it a small but important part of the food chain on sandy shores.
A nest beneath a shell
By digging a chamber beneath an empty bivalve shell and covering it with sand, the male sand goby makes a safe, hidden nursery for the eggs he then guards.
Status
Least Concern, widespread and abundant.
Sand Goby: common questions
Where does the sand goby lay its eggs?
The male digs out a nest beneath an empty shell, such as a bivalve half, covers it with sand, and guards the eggs inside.
How long does a sand goby live?
It lives for only one or two years, so the population depends on each year's breeding success.
What eats sand gobies?
Flatfish, bass, cod, and seabirds eat them in large numbers, making them a key link in the food chain of sandy shores.
Where is the sand goby found?
It lives on sandy bottoms in shallow coastal water and estuaries of the north-eastern Atlantic, the North Sea, the Baltic, and the Mediterranean.