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Violet Goby

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Gobioides broussonnetii
Lacepéde 1800
Family Gobiidae

Lateral view of a violet goby
This violet goby was collected in Charlotte County, Florida. It is now part of the Florida Museum ichthyology collection, UF 238150. Florida Museum photo by Zachary Randall

The violet goby is a member of the goby family. It has an extremely elongate and eel-like body that is gray to purple-ish in color dorsally, but lighter on the lower side. There is a series of conspicuous dark chevrons that extends along the length of the body. The mouth is large and upturned, and the pelvic fins are united. The violet goby is a marine species that inhabits the mouths of large rivers, muddy bays, inlets, lagoons, estuaries and coastal creeks. This species may bury in mud.

Status & distribution

  • Status — Marine invader
  • Florida Distribution — South Florida and the Atlantic Coast
View species in collection database New gallery search

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Florida Museum of Natural History
Gainesville, FL 32611
352-392-1721 (Research) or
352-846-2000 (Exhibits)

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  • Page Last Updated: 08/19/2022