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Round goby with sculpin Credit: J. E. Marsden

round goby
Apollonia melanostomus (Neogobius melanostomus)

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:

• 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

Common Vector(s):
Shipping: Ballast water

Round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) Credit: Eric Engbretson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Round goby with sculpin