Thorogobius ephippiatus

Researched By	Morvan Barnes	Data Supplied By	MarLIN
Refereed by	This information is not refereed
Taxonomy
Scientific name	Thorogobius ephippiatus	Common name	Leopard-spotted goby
MCS Code	ZG483	Recent Synonyms
Phylum	Chordata	Subphylum	Vertebrata
Superclass	Gnathostomata	Class	Osteichthyes
Subclass	Teleostei	Order	Perciformes
Suborder		Family	Gobiidae
Genus	Thorogobius	Species	ephippiatus
Subspecies
Additional Information
Taxonomy References	Hayward et al., 1996, Dipper, 2001, Wheeler, 1969, FishBase, 2000, MBA, 1957, Howson & Picton, 1997, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Whitehead et al., 1986
General Biology
Growth form	Pisciform	Feeding method	Omnivore
Mobility/Movement	Swimmer	Environmental position	Demersal
Typical food types	Small crustaceans, polychaetes, gastropods and algae.	Habit	Free living
Bioturbator	Not relevant	Flexibility	Low (10-45 degrees)
Fragility	Intermediate	Size	Medium(11-20 cm)
Height	Not researched	Growth Rate	2 cm / year
Adult dispersal potential	1km-10km	Dependency	Independent
Sociability	Solitary
Toxic/Poisonous?	No
Additional Information
Biology References	Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Whitehead et al., 1986, Wheeler, 1969, Miller et al., 2006, Dunne, 1976
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution in Britain & Ireland	Found off most British and Irish coasts although less common off eastern British coasts.
Global distribution	Found in north-west Europe around the British Isles and Ireland and in the Meditteranean east of Greece.
Biogeographic range	Temperate.	Depth range	From 5 m to 30 m depth.
Migratory	Non-migratory / Resident
Distribution Additional Information
Substratum preferences	Crevices / fissures, Caves, Bedrock, Large to very large boulders	Physiographic preferences	Open coast, Enclosed coast / Embayment
Biological zone	Lower Eulittoral, Sublittoral Fringe, Upper Infralittoral, Lower Infralittoral, Upper Circalittoral	Wave exposure
Tidal stream strength/Water flow		Salinity	Full (30-40 psu)
Habitat Additional Information
Distribution References	Hayward et al., 1996, Dipper, 2001, Wheeler, 1969, FishBase, 2000, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Whitehead et al., 1986, Wheeler, 1969, Miller et al., 2006, Dunne, 1976, Wilkins & Myers, 2005
Reproduction/Life History
Reproductive type	Gonochoristic	Developmental mechanism	Oviparous
Reproductive Season	May to June	Reproductive Location	Water column
Reproductive frequency	Annual episodic	Regeneration potential	No
Life span	6-10 years	Age at reproductive maturity	3-5 years
Generation time	Not researched	Fecundity	2,500 to 12,000
Egg/propagule size	Insufficient information	Fertilization type	External
Larvae/Juveniles Larval/Juvenile dispersal potential Insufficient information Larval settlement period Not relevant Duration of larval stage Not relevant
Additional Information
Reproduction References	Whitehead et al., 1986, Miller et al., 2006