Giant Goby

The Giant Goby (Gobius cobitis) is a fish species that lives in coastal marine and brackish waters across the eastern Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea, and Black Sea, typically at depths ranging from 10 to 35 meters (33 to 115 feet). In the UK, it is found only on the southern coast, especially between Wembury in southwest Devon and the Isles of Scilly. The species is more commonly found from the western English Channel to Morocco, throughout the Mediterranean, in the Black Sea, and even in the Gulf of Suez, likely migrating through the Suez Canal (🇪🇬 Egypt).

This goby usually measures about 12 cm (4.7 inches), but dominant males can reach up to 14 cm (5.5 inches). It has a bicolored body that is predominantly maroon and beige with additional maroon mottling. The fish's appearance can vary from greyish to olive-brown and features 'pepper and salt' markings, particularly noticeable in younger fish. Male gobies tend to be darker during breeding, and the body is covered in small scales. The species has small eyes and a short tail stalk.

In terms of habitat, the giant goby is often found in rock pools located high up in the intertidal zones on sheltered shores. These pools are characterized by freshwater inputs, making the water brackish. The goby takes shelter under boulders within these pools. Its diet reflects its omnivorous tendencies with a carnivorous slant, feeding on a variety of foods including polychaete worms, green algae from the genus Ulva, amphipods, crabs, and insects.

Giant gobies are typically solitary creatures and do not defend territories, although they can show aggression towards other species. They reproduce by laying eggs on exposed substrates.

There have been concerns about the species' vulnerability to human disturbances due to recreational pressures on their natural shore habitats. While not currently considered endangered in the UK, giant gobies were thought to be in decline after disappearing from certain historic ranges in the early 1990s but were later rediscovered. In response to conservation concerns, the giant goby was added to Schedule 5 of the UK Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, making it illegal to kill, injure, take, or sell these fish, or to harm their habitats. This fish also benefits from being part of English Nature's Species Recovery Programme.