Description
The black goby lives on the bottom of both hard and soft substrata. Tolerates low salinities and can also be found in brackish waters. It has two dorsal fins without a gap in between, the first has 6 rays and is elongated by the male. To impress females and to warn competing males, this first dorsal fin is exposed. Mating season is in early spring, when the eggs are laid in small holes or in empty shells, where the male will guard them till hatching. Feeds on small invertebrates.

Size
Can reach a maximum length of 170 mm.

Colour
Greyish brown with dark brown patches. During mating season, the males will become very dark, almost black.

Habitat
From the tidal zone up to a depth of 75 meter. On various substrata, as long as they can find shelters to hide for predators.

Distribution
Eastern Atlantic from Norway to West Africa, the Mediterranean and the Black sea.