Description: The leopard-spotted goby is probably the most easy to identify of the gobies that occur around Britain and Ireland. It is a moderately large goby, reaching a maximum length of 13 cm. The coloration is very distinctive, it has a pale fawn body with conspicuous orange, brick-red or brownish-black spots all over the head and body, hence the common name. There is also a black spot near the rear edge of the first dorsal fin. Breeding males are darker in colour with a conspicuous light-pale blue edge to the dorsal and anal fins.

Habitat: The leopard-spotted goby lives in ledges and crevices in vertical rock faces down to a depth of 40 m. It is also occasionally found in deep rockpools on the low shore. The diet consists mainly of amphipod crustaceans and worms.

Distribution: This species is widespread all around the coasts of Britain and Ireland apart from the east coast of Britain, south of St Abbs.

Similar Species: None in Britain or Ireland.

Key Identification Features:

• Dark leopard-like spots on body and head
• White-pale blue band on dorsal and anal fins of males
• Lives on ledges in vertical rock faces

Distribution Map from NBN: Thorogobius ephippiatus at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Thorogobius ephippiatus at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Thorogobius ephippiatus at World Register of Marine Species.