Head to head
Sand Goby vs Common Dragonet
Sand Goby
VS Common Dragonet
The sand goby and the common dragonet are two small fish of the sandy shallows around Europe, and both rely on sand for camouflage.
| Sand Goby | Common Dragonet | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Pomatoschistus minutus | Callionymus lyra |
| Relationship | A goby, with its pelvic fins joined into a sucker-like disc | A dragonet, with a flattened head and a tapering body |
| Appearance | Pale, sandy, and almost translucent, with small speckles | The male has blue and yellow markings and a very long first dorsal fin, while the female is drab brown |
| Size | A tiny fish that lives for only one or two years | Males reach around 30 cm in length, while females reach only about 20 cm |
| Hiding | Blends into sand so that it is very hard to see | Often partly buried, with a tiny gill opening on top of its head that lets it breathe in sand |
| Breeding | The male digs a nest beneath an empty shell, covers it with sand, and guards the eggs | The male displays his fins in front of the female, and the pair rise together in the water to release their eggs |
| Diet | Small crustaceans such as copepods and mysid shrimps, along with worms | Small crustaceans, worms, and molluscs found on and in the sand |
| Conservation status | Least Concern, and a key link in the food chain of sandy shores | Least Concern, widespread and common on sandy coasts of the north-eastern Atlantic |
Sand Goby vs Common Dragonet: common questions
Which fish is bigger?
The common dragonet, whose males reach around 30 cm in length, while the sand goby is a tiny fish.
Which one builds a nest?
The sand goby male digs a chamber beneath an empty shell, covers it with sand, and guards the eggs inside.
Which one has a courtship display?
The common dragonet, whose male displays his fins in front of the female before the pair rise together in the water to release their eggs.