Depth
Odondebuenia · Bony Fish

Coralline Goby

Odondebuenia balearica

2 - 25 m
Depth Range
6 cm
Max Size
Mediterranean
Distribution
2 - 25 m
Depth Range
6 cm
Max Size
Rocky Reefs
Habitat
Carnivore
Diet
Solitary
Social
LC
IUCN Status
Moderate
Sighting Likelihood
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassActinopterygii
GenusOdondebuenia
Speciesbalearica

Bony Fish

Identification & Biology

  • IdentificationVery small goby with a semi-transparent body showing pinkish to reddish tones. Relatively large head for its body size. Faint darker bars or spots along the flanks.
  • SizeUp to 4 cm total length. One of the smallest Mediterranean fish.
  • Social HabitSolitary and extremely cryptic. Lives among coralline algae and encrusting organisms on rocky surfaces.
  • HabitatHard rocky substrates covered in coralline algae, often in semi-shaded areas such as overhangs and cave walls.
  • Depth3 to 40 m.
  • Feeds OnTiny invertebrates picked from the surfaces of coralline algae and encrusting organisms.
  • DistributionEndemic to the western Mediterranean Sea, including the Balearic Islands, Corsica, Sardinia, and Malta.
  • DescriptionA tiny, semi-transparent goby that is almost impossible to spot among the pink and red coralline algae it calls home. One of the smallest fish in the Mediterranean, it is rarely noticed by divers.

Range

Habitat & Distribution

Closely associated with rocky substrates covered in coralline algae from 2 to 25 m depth. Found throughout the Mediterranean on photophilic algal communities covering rocky reefs.

Where Malta divers have spotted this species

Loading…

Sightings are logged by divers using our What Did You See? dive-log tool. View the full live sightings map.

Detail

Preferred Environment

Rocky reefs and boulders with well-developed coralline algae cover. Prefers areas with complex surface texture providing both camouflage and small crevices for shelter. Typically in well-lit, moderate-current zones.

Encounter Tips

Scan algae-covered rock surfaces very carefully in shallow to moderate depths. The species blends remarkably well with coralline algae. Look for the slight outline of the fish or eye movement.

Coralline Goby species card

Dive with diveshack

Where to Encounter in Malta

Dive sites where Odondebuenia balearica may be encountered will be added as sighting data is collected.

IUCN Red ListLeast Concern

Conservation Status

This species is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Mediterranean populations face ongoing pressure from fishing activity, habitat degradation, and climate-driven changes.

Source: IUCN Red List
diveshack Mediterranean Marine Life guide