The Arrow Goby (Clevelandia ios), or Gobio flecha in Spanish, slips into the burrows of clams and worms to hide from hungry predators. The mud coloring of this fish and its behavior of hiding in the burrows of Ghost Shrimps, Mud Shrimps, and Innkeeper Worms help keep them safely out of view. They feed on diatoms (microscopic form of algae), green algae, zooplankton (microscopic animals that live in water), eggs, and young ghost shrimp. 

Commonly found around sand and mud bottoms of estuaries, lagoons, and intertidal zones, the Arrow Goby’s habitat range extends from British Columbia, Canada, in the north to as far south as north-central Baja California, Mexico. Predators include larger fish and wetland birds.

PHOTO CREDIT: Mary Jo Adams