Tubenose Goby

Proterorhinus marmoratus

Gobiidae · freshwater and saltwater and brackish water fish

1 minute read · Species guide

Tubenose Goby field guide illustration

About Tubenose Goby

Proterorhinus marmoratus is a species of gobiid fish, a tubenose goby native to the brackish water parts of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, near the coasts of Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Ukraine and Russia. Also it is found in the Marmora Sea (Turkey). It can reach a length of 11.5 centimetres (4.5 in) TL.

Systematics

Proterorhinus marmoratus, known as the tubenose goby, was formerly considered as the only representative of the genus Proterorhinus with a native range extending to the Caspian Sea basin, and a recent invasive range in the freshwaters of Europe and North America. In the 2000s it was split into several cryptic species based on the molecular and further morphological analyses. In the current concept, P. marmoratus is applicable only to marine and brackish water populations of the Black Sea basin. Freshwater populations of this basin are now referable to the western tubenose goby (P. semilunaris), except for a local Crimean Proterorhinus tataricus.

Article text: Wikipedia contributors, Proterorhinus marmoratus (source revision). Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Retrieved 2026-10-11.

Range

Where it lives

Share of 11 GBIF observation records with a state location, across 2 states.
0%
81.8%
Share of 11 GBIF observation records with a state location, across 2 states.

Share of records by state

Habitat

Water and movement

Water
WoRMS records this species in fresh water, brackish water and the sea.

Classification

Taxonomy

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Superclass
Actinopterygii
Class
Teleostei
Order
Perciformes
Family
Gobiidae
Genus
Proterorhinus
Species
Proterorhinus marmoratus
ITIS TSN
172080
WoRMS AphiaID
126933
GBIF key
2379235
Outside the US
ITIS also files it in Canada.

Common questions about Tubenose Goby

What is the scientific name of Tubenose Goby?
The scientific name is Proterorhinus marmoratus, in the family Gobiidae. Classification follows ITIS.
Does Tubenose Goby live in fresh water or salt water?
WoRMS records this species in fresh water, brackish water and the sea.
Where has Tubenose Goby been recorded in the United States?
GBIF has observations in 2 states, with the most records in Michigan, Minnesota. The map shows observation records, which do not establish the complete natural range.

Same family

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Crested Goby2 states
Lophogobius cyprinoidesGobiidaeNativeFreshSaltBrackish
Frillfin Goby9 states
Bathygobius soporatorGobiidaeNativeFreshSaltBrackish
Green Goby10 states
Microgobius thalassinusGobiidaeNativeSalt
Highfin Goby8 states
Gobionellus oceanicusGobiidaeNativeFreshSaltBrackish
Hiukole Goby1 states
Lentipes concolorGobiidaeNativeFreshBrackish
Longjaw Mudsucker3 states
Gillichthys mirabilisGobiidaeNative and introducedSaltBrackish
Lyre Goby8 states
Evorthodus lyricusGobiidaeNativeFreshSaltBrackish
Naked Goby16 states
Gobiosoma boscGobiidaeNative and introducedSaltBrackish
Naniha Goby1 states
Stenogobius hawaiiensisGobiidaeNativeFreshBrackish
Neon Goby1 states
Elacatinus oceanopsGobiidaeNativeSalt
Nopoli Rockclimbing Goby1 states
Sicyopterus stimpsoniGobiidaeNativeFreshSaltBrackish
Northern Tidewater Goby1 states
Eucyclogobius newberryiGobiidaeNativeSaltBrackish
Notchtongue Goby2 states
Bathygobius curacaoGobiidaeNativeSalt
Pacific River Goby1 states
Awaous guamensisGobiidaeNativeFreshSaltBrackish
Pleurosicya larsonae1 states
GobiidaeNativeSalt
River Goby3 states
Awaous bananaGobiidaeIntroducedFreshBrackish

All 33 species in Gobiidae