Common Goby

No head lateral-line canals; paired rows of interorbital papillae, with short single transverse row often present at midpoint of interorbit. Typically D2 I/10 (9-11) (Ref. 12215). This species is distinguished from other gobies in freshwaters of Adriatic basin and Italy by the following characters: no cephalic lateral line canals; branched rays in second dorsal 11-12.5; scales in midlateral series 29-43; completely scaled caudal peduncle (Ref. 59043).

Male only guards the clutch as long as the young have not hatched (Ref.26100). Males produce sounds when spawning and defending the nest (Ref.59043).

Vertebrae: 28 - 29

Stomach contents of specimens collected from Stirone Torrent comprise of larvae of Trichoptera in large individuals and larvae of Ephemeroptera in smaller ones. Small annelids and larvae of Plecoptera were also present. In the lower course of the Taro R., adults feed mainly on gammarids; the same diet as those found in Sesia R. Cannibalism have been noted in captive fishes, under conditions of high density, once observed in the wild (Ref, 43646).

Found in streams with moderate flow over pebble beds, from altitudes of 400 m to sea level, and also at lake edges (with dense vegetation or coarse gravel, Ref. 59043). Spawns for the first time at 1 year; spawning season in April to July, when temperature reaches 20°C; females may repeat spawning during a season. Adhesive eggs deposited between stones, shells and aquatic plants and males guard the eggs until hatching. When spawning and defending the nest, males produce sounds. Feeds on a variety of benthic invertebrates (Ref.59043).Territorial, usually burrows under flat stones. A short-lived species which is threatened by pollution and habitat destruction (Ref. 26100). Known to be invasive in Italy and has massively expanded its range south since the last decades (Ref. 92840).

Padogobius bonelli, the Padanian goby, is a species of true goby from the family Gobiidae native to rivers of Croatia, Italy, Slovenia, and Switzerland, where it is usually found in areas with gravel substrates or dense vegetation along the edges. Males of this species can reach a length of 8.6 centimetres (3.4 in) TL while females only reach 7.5 centimetres (3.0 in) TL. This species' specific name honours the Italian naturalist Franco Andrea Bonelli (1784-1830), who had originally described this species as Gobius fluviatilis without realizing that this name was already being used for a different goby species, the monkey goby, which had been described by Pallas in 1814.