Depth
Speleogobius · Bony Fish

Llori's Grotto Goby

Speleogobius llorisi

10 - 40 m
Depth Range
4 cm
Max Size
Mediterranean
Distribution
10 - 40 m
Depth Range
4 cm
Max Size
Caves
Habitat
Carnivore
Diet
Solitary
Social
LC
IUCN Status
Rare
Sighting Likelihood
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassActinopterygii
GenusSpeleogobius
Speciesllorisi

Bony Fish

Identification & Biology

  • IdentificationVery small goby with a pale to translucent body showing sparse darker pigment. Large head relative to body. Typically found in low-light cave environments.
  • SizeUp to 3.5 cm total length.
  • Social HabitSolitary, cave-dwelling species. Occupies dimly lit crevices and the walls of underwater caves.
  • HabitatMarine caves and deep crevices with very low light levels. A true cave specialist.
  • Depth5 to 40 m, always inside caves or deep overhangs.
  • Feeds OnTiny cave-dwelling invertebrates including copepods and amphipods.
  • DistributionWestern Mediterranean Sea. Described from the Balearic Islands and recorded around Malta, Sardinia, and other central Mediterranean locations.
  • DescriptionA rare cave-dwelling goby named after the ichthyologist Jaume Lloris. It is one of the few Mediterranean fish that is almost exclusively found inside underwater caves, making it a special find for cave divers with an eye for small life. If you ever come across an underwater photo of Speleogobius llorisi we can slot it in.

Range

Habitat & Distribution

An obligate cave-dweller found exclusively in submarine caves, grottoes, and deep crevices from 10 to 40 m depth in the western and central Mediterranean. Lives on the walls and ceilings of dark cave interiors.

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

Dark zones of submarine caves and grottoes. Found on cave walls, ceilings, and in deep crevices where light levels are very low. Prefers caves with some water circulation. Often associated with cave sponge and bryozoan communities.

Encounter Tips

Explore the interior walls and ceilings of submarine caves using a gentle torch beam. This species sits motionless on rock surfaces and can be revealed by careful scanning with a narrow-beam torch.

Llori's Grotto Goby species card

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Where to Encounter in Malta

Dive sites where Speleogobius llorisi 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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