West african freshwater goby

Introduction: The west African freshwater boby (Awaous lateristriga) are small fish that belong to the family Gobiidae. They can be found in various freshwater and brackish habitats, including rivers, streams, and estuaries. These fish have a fascinating ability to breathe air using a modified gill chamber, which allows them to survive in oxygen-depleted waters.

Distribution: The west African freshwater boby can be found in various regions of Namibia, particularly in freshwater habitats with slow-moving or stagnant waters, such as swamps, marshes, and slow-moving streams.

Diet: They are omnivorous and have a varied diet, feeding on algae, detritus, small aquatic invertebrates, and occasionally small fish or other organic matter they come across.

Appearance: The west African freshwater goby has a unique colouration with a background colour ranging from pale yellow to light brown, adorned with dark brown, wavy vertical stripes along their sides.

Breeding: Awaous lateristriga exhibits complex breeding behaviours. Males construct nests in sheltered areas using pebbles and vegetation. After courtship, females lay their eggs in the nests, and males guard the eggs until they hatch.

Size: These fish are relatively small, with an average length of about 10 to 15 centimetres when fully grown.