New 🐟 Mercury Safety Guide & Omega-3 Rankings Updated for 2026. View Omega-3 Rankings →

🌊 Marine Least Concern 🍽️ Edible 🌡️ Tropical

Goldspot goby

Gnatholepis thompsoni Jordan, 1904
Max Length
8.2 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
2.3
Depth
0–50 m
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
15.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
reef

📖 Overview

Inhabits open sand, rock, and rubble areas. Often occurs with the bridled goby, Coryphopterus glaucofraenum. Feeds on organisms and organic material by taking sand into its mouth and expelling it through the gill openings, filtering out its food in the process .

Scientific Name
Gnatholepis thompsoni
Authority
Jordan, 1904
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Tropical
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
8.2 cm
Depth Range
0–50 m
Latitude
2°S – 43°N
Trophic Level
2.3
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
15.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 12; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 11. Distinguished by the following characteristics: moderately large Gnatholepis (up to 58 mm SL) with nape midline scales always cycloid and most of predorsal scales cycloid; body pale with 6-8 rows of staggered dark brown spots, mid-lateral spots may be largest; transverse black line on the upper part of the eye joining somewhat oblique to curved black line or bar crossing cheek and ending well behind end of jaw; third to fourth first dorsal fin spines longest, fin with square to rectangular appearance when extended; second dorsal and anal fin rays usually I,11; pectoral rays 16-18, usually 17; lateral scales 26-29, usually 27; 9-11 predorsal scales (usually 10), all cycloid .: fusiform / normal.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Goldspot goby is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Goldspot goby is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Reproduction data for Goldspot goby is currently being compiled.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 50 m , usually 1 - 36 m . Tropical; 43°N - 2°S North Carolina, the Bahamas, Bermuda through to the Lesser Antilles in western Atlantic; also in the oceanic islands of Ascension, Madeira and St Helena, and Sao Tome Island, Cape Verde Islands and the Canary Islands in the eastern Atlantic.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🪸 Reef Associated
Trophic Level
2.3±0.2
Food Items

organisms and organic material by taking sand into its mouth and expelling it through the gill openi

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00871 × L3.21 (TL)
Max TL
8.2cm
Dorsal Spines
7
Dorsal Rays
11
Anal Spines
1
Anal Rays
11

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2014

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
High
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
15.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
2.3
Omnivore / Planktivore
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
Climate Zone
Tropical
Latitude Range
43°N – 2°S
Described By
Jordan, 1904

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"Goldspot goby is an edible species."

✗ Not for Raw
✓ Fresh Indicators
  • Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
  • Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
  • Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
  • Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
  • Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
✗ Avoid If
  • Cloudy or sunken eyes
  • Strong fishy or ammonia odour
  • Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
  • Discoloured or dry flesh
Best Cooking Methods
Baking Grilling Pan-frying

Nutrition

Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central

Nutrient Amount
Protein 18 g
Omega-3 (total) 145 mg

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for Goldspot goby has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

Best Choice
Healthy stocks, low impact
Good Alternative
Well-managed, minor concerns
Use Caution
Check sourcing and season
Avoid
Overfished or high impact

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Gnatholepis thomsoni Jordan 1904 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 91 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
0 Observations logged on Aquareap

No observations yet - be the first to log one!

View all observations for Goldspot goby ↗
Suggest an Edit

Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.

Link to a scientific paper, FishBase, or other authoritative source
Report an Issue

Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.