Sylvain Le Bris, Frankreich
Info
Gobius ater is a cryptobenthos species that inhabits sheltered bays and is strongly associated with Posidonia oceanica seagrass beds.
However, it is still unclear whether Gobius ater depends on seagrass for survival or whether it is merely a preferred habitat for this species.
Its large eyes suggest that Bellotti's goby is nocturnal or specializes in navigating through tunnel networks in seagrass beds.
Gobius ater is a small, completely black species that can easily be confused with other black species, although it is genetically distinct from Gobius ceramensis Bleeker and its black relatives.
Despite easily accessible depths, there is no information available on the biology or preferred food of this goby, which is another possible indication of nocturnal behavior.
The black base color of the goby makes this even more difficult; nighttime observations would only be possible with powerful diving lamps, and it is not known how the goby would react to them.
We would like to thank Sylvain Le Bris for his great photo of Gobius ater.
Synonym: Gobius balearicus Lozano-Rey, 1919 · unaccepted (synonym)
However, it is still unclear whether Gobius ater depends on seagrass for survival or whether it is merely a preferred habitat for this species.
Its large eyes suggest that Bellotti's goby is nocturnal or specializes in navigating through tunnel networks in seagrass beds.
Gobius ater is a small, completely black species that can easily be confused with other black species, although it is genetically distinct from Gobius ceramensis Bleeker and its black relatives.
Despite easily accessible depths, there is no information available on the biology or preferred food of this goby, which is another possible indication of nocturnal behavior.
The black base color of the goby makes this even more difficult; nighttime observations would only be possible with powerful diving lamps, and it is not known how the goby would react to them.
We would like to thank Sylvain Le Bris for his great photo of Gobius ater.
Synonym: Gobius balearicus Lozano-Rey, 1919 · unaccepted (synonym)
