Round goby with sculpinJ. E. Marsden
Apollonia melanostomus (neogobius melanostomus)
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Native sculpins
Characteristics
- Young: solid slate gray. Older: blotched with black and brown; greenish dorsal fin with a black spot
- Very distinctive, raised eyes
- 4-9 inches long (10-23 cm)
- Similar to native sculpins but can be distinguished by the fused pelvic fins (sculpins have two separate fins)
Habitat
- A bottom dweller found in rivers and near the shore of lakes, preferring rocky habitats with many places to hide
Known Distribution in the Northeast
- New York, Quebec, and Great Lakes region
- Native to Eurasia
Impacts
- Native fish species have declined in areas where the round goby has become abundant
Round goby (Neogobius melanostomus)Eric Engbretson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Round goby with sculpin