- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Subphylum: Vertebrata
- Superclass: Gnathostomata
- Class: Actinopterygii
- Order: Perciformes
- Family: Gobiidae
- Scientific name: Pomatoschistus microps
- Norwegian: leirkutling
Characteristics:
The appearance of the common goby is very similar to the painted goby. The common goby is smaller, never exceeding a length of 6 cm. It has no scales on the top of the head, throat and neck. A relatively large dark blotch just behind the breast fin is perhaps the most obvious difference. Furthermore, it has a dark spot on the first dorsal fin. The coloration is dominated by brown patterns on a grey base.
Habitat:
It is quite common inshore, from the intertidal zone and as deep as 50 meters. It thrives in brackish water near estuaries and in tidal pools.
Distribution:
It can be found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, from Trøndelag (Norway) to Morocco and the north-west Mediterranean.