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Diadromous Least Concern 🍽️ Edible 🌡️ Tropical

Northern mud gudgeon

Ophiocara porocephala Valenciennes, 1837
Max Length
34 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
4.1
Depth
0–20 m
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
23.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
demersal

📖 Overview

Adults occur in brackish estuaries, river mouths and freshwater creeks . Occurs mainly in the vegetation or under stones, roots or under leaf litter in the lower parts of rivers and ponds, from tidal influence to 15 m high in altitude, on sandy, muddy or gravel bottoms. A carnivorous fish which feeds on crustaceans, molluscs and fish .

Scientific Name
Ophiocara porocephala
Authority
Valenciennes, 1837
Habitat
Diadromous
Climate
Tropical
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
34 cm
Depth Range
0–20 m
Trophic Level
4.1
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
23.00/100
Migration
Amphidromous
Water Temp
20–30 °C
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Teleostei
Teleostei
Order
Gobiiformes
Gobiiformes
Family
Eleotridae
Eleotridae
Genus
Ophiocara
Ophiocara
Species
Northern mud gudgeon
Ophiocara porocephala

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8 - 9; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 7. Head and body dark; 2nd dorsal and caudal spotted; juveniles with irregular crossbars .: fusiform / normal.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Northern mud gudgeon is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

small fish
crustaceans
cephalopods

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous 📦 Batch Spawner
Spawning Season
spring
Spawn Location
Substrate
Fertilization
External

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; amphidromous ; depth range 0 - 20 m . Tropical; 20°C - 30°C Indian Ocean.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 💧 Freshwater 🌿 Brackish ⬇️ Benthic
Migration
Amphidromous
Trophic Level
4.1±0.7
Food Items

crustaceans, molluscs and fish (Ref

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00933 × L3.06 (TL)
Max TL
34cm
Dorsal Spines
7
Dorsal Rays
9
Anal Spines
1
Anal Rays
7

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Temperature Range
20–30°C
Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2024

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
High
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
23.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
4.1
Apex / Top predator
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
Climate Zone
Tropical
Described By
Valenciennes, 1837

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"Northern mud gudgeon 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

Detailed nutritional data for Northern mud gudgeon is currently being compiled from USDA FoodData Central.

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for Northern mud gudgeon 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
✓ Sustainable Choice

🔬 Full Nutritional Profile

Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)

Proximate Composition
Energy125 kcal
Moisture75 %
Protein20 %
Total Fat4 %
Ash1.3 %
Fatty Acids (g)
Saturated Fat1 g
Monounsaturated Fat1.2 g
Polyunsaturated Fat1.5 g
Omega-3 Total1 g
EPA0.3 g
DHA0.5 g
Omega-6 Total0.3 g
Key Minerals & Vitamins
Calcium20 mg
Iron0.7 mg
Magnesium30 mg
Phosphorus220 mg
Potassium380 mg
Sodium55 mg
Zinc0.5 mg
Selenium32 µg
Vitamin B122 µg

📊 Population Dynamics

Year Region Index Notes
- - -

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language Common Names
🇬🇧English Flathead Sleeper · Mullet Gudgeon · Snakehead Gudgeon · Spangled sleeper · Tittle · northern mud gudgeon · spangled gudgeon
🇩🇪German Schlangenkopfschläfergrundel
🌍FIJ Bau
🇫🇷French Cabot des Seychelles · Cabot marare · Eléotris à tête poreuse
🇯🇵Japanese Hoshimadarahaze · ホシマダラハゼ
🇷🇺Russian Плоскоголовая офиокара
🌍THA ปลาบู่หัวมัน
🇨🇳Chinese 頭孔塘鱧

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Agonostoma darwiniense Macleay 1878 Synonym
Eleotris cantoris Günther 1861 Synonym
Eleotris kuak Montrouzier 1857 Synonym
Eleotris limosus Smith 1936 Synonym
Eleotris litoralis Day 1876 Synonym
Eleotris madagascariensis Valenciennes 1837 Synonym
Eleotris ophicephalus Valenciennes 1837 Synonym
Eleotris porocephalus Valenciennes 1837 Synonym
Eleotris scintillans Blyth 1860 Synonym
Eleotris viridis Bleeker 1849 Synonym
Ophiocara darwiniensis Macleay 1878 Synonym
Ophiocara limosus Smith 1936 Synonym
Ophiocara ophicephalus Valenciennes 1837 Synonym
Ophiocara porocaephala Valenciennes 1837 Synonym
Ophiocara porocephala darwiniense Macleay 1878 Synonym
Ophiocara procaephala Valenciennes 1837 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 30 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

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