Tidewater goby

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Tidewater goby (Eucyclogobius newberryi) are small, short-lived, cryptic fishes, rarely exceeding about two inches in length. They are only found in California, occurring in coastal lagoons and sloughs where water is generally brackish but environmental conditions can fluctuate greatly. A range of adaptations allow tidewater goby populations to persist in these environmentally challenging habitats, which are often separated from the Pacific Ocean by sandbars.

The gobies usually have a brown, mottled coloration and may even appear transparent. Only during reproduction, which can occur at any time of year (in contrast to most other fishes), do the females display dark colors on body and fins. They are often found in areas with aquatic vegetation; plants like sago pond weed and widgeon grass provide cover for the gobies and habitat for the invertebrates they feed on, including midge larvae, mysid shrimp, amphipods, and even invasive New Zealand mudsnails. The number of tidewater goby populations greatly declined during the late 20th century, likely due to heavy coastal development, and the species was listed as Endangered under the Endangered Species Act in 1994.

• tidewater goby
• edangered
• coastal lagoons
• coastal california