# Blackeye Goby (*Rhinogobiops nicholsii*) The Blackeye Goby is a small fish with big, round eyes! They are often found hiding in the sand and rocks of the ocean floor, making them fun to spot during a beach adventure. - **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Blackeye Goby](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Coryphopterus_nicholsii.jpg&width=800) Photo: Chad King / MBNMS, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coryphopterus_nicholsii.jpg) ## Appearance The Blackeye Goby has a slender body, often mottled with brown, tan, and grey patterns for camouflage. Its most distinctive feature is a prominent dark spot or stripe directly behind each eye. They possess large, fan-like pectoral fins and two separate dorsal fins. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Actinopterygii - **Order:** Perciformes - **Family:** Gobiidae - **Genus:** Rhinogobiops ## Interesting facts - A male Blackeye Goby performs a special dance to attract a mate. - Even in the dark, they can feel tiny vibrations of food swimming nearby. - These tiny fish often share homes with other burrowing animals, like worms! - They use their fins like sticky feet to crawl on rocks and seaweed. ## Special abilities - **Cling Power:** Blackeye Goby has special pelvic fins that form a suction cup, helping them stick firmly to rocks even in strong currents. - **Color Shifter:** Blackeye Goby can subtly change its skin color to blend perfectly with surrounding rocks and seaweed, making it hard to spot. - **Dedicated Dad:** Blackeye Goby males guard their eggs fiercely inside rocky crevices or burrows, protecting their future offspring. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 5-15 cm - **Weight:** 0.005-0.05 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-5 years - **Maximum Depth:** 30 m - **Water Type:** Saltwater ## Diet & Feeding These small fish are hunters of tiny marine creatures found on the seafloor. - **Age differences:** Young gobies primarily feed on plankton, while adults shift to benthic invertebrates. - **Primary Foods:** amphipods, copepods, small crabs, marine worms, tiny fish larvae - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Shelter:** Fat Innkeeper Worm (*Urechis caupo*) — Hides in burrows of these worms. - **Eaten by:** Kelp Bass (*Paralabrax clathratus*) — A common predator in kelp forests. - **Eats:** Lacy Amphipod (*Ampithoe lacertosa*) — Feeds on these small crustaceans. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. ## Collections - [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch where you step in the water to avoid stepping on small fish like the Blackeye Goby. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Blackeye Goby? Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Blackeye Goby? 5-15 cm ### How much does Blackeye Goby weigh? 0.005-0.05 kg ### How long does Blackeye Goby live? 2-5 years ### What does Blackeye Goby eat? These small fish are hunters of tiny marine creatures found on the seafloor. ### Where is Blackeye Goby usually found? Coastal areas ### How does Blackeye Goby hunt? Foraging ### How deep can Blackeye Goby go? 30 m ## More Fish - [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) - [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) - [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*) - [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*) --- Source: [Blackeye Goby: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blackeye-goby)