Depth
Crystallogobius · Bony Fish

Crystal Goby

Crystallogobius linearis

10-200m
Depth Range
5cm
Max Size
Mediterranean
Distribution
10-200m
Depth Range
5cm
Max Size
Sandy / Pelagic
Habitat
Planktivore
Diet
Large schools
Social
LC
IUCN Status
Low
Sighting Likelihood
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassActinopterygii
GenusCrystallogobius
Specieslinearis

Bony Fish

Identification & Biology

  • IdentificationTiny, almost completely transparent body with visible internal organs and skeleton. Large eyes relative to body size. Males develop a dark band along the body during breeding season.
  • SizeUp to 4.7 cm total length. One of the smallest fish in the Mediterranean.
  • Social HabitForms dense shoals in open water above the seabed, especially during the breeding season.
  • HabitatMidwater above sandy and muddy bottoms. Unlike most gobies, this species is pelagic rather than benthic.
  • Depth20 to 100 m.
  • Feeds OnZooplankton, especially copepods and other tiny crustaceans captured in the water column.
  • DistributionEastern Atlantic from Norway to Morocco and throughout the Mediterranean Sea.
  • DescriptionUnique among Mediterranean gobies for its pelagic lifestyle, the crystal goby hovers in midwater rather than resting on the bottom. Its almost completely transparent body makes it nearly invisible to predators and divers alike. It is a short-lived species, typically surviving only one year, and forms breeding aggregations in spring.

Range

Habitat & Distribution

Found over sandy and muddy bottoms from 10 to 200 metres, forming schools in the water column. Present in deeper Maltese coastal waters over soft substrates.

Where Malta divers have spotted this species

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

Detail

Preferred Environment

Mid-water above sandy and muddy seabeds on the continental shelf and upper slope.

Encounter Tips

Best approached slowly and calmly. Avoid casting shadows directly over the animal. Neutral buoyancy and patience increase encounter success significantly.

Crystal Goby species card

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Where to Encounter in Malta

Dive sites where Crystallogobius linearis 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
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