Gudgeon

Name: Gudgeon

Scientific name: Gobio gobio

Category: Fish

Nature Stars: 40

What are nature stars?

About: A small, slender fish, 8-14cm long. Has two moustache-like 'barbels' around the mouth. Found in sandy and gravelly rivers and streams, feeding on the bottom. Feeds on small invertebrates such as mayfly larvae and freshwater shrimps, as well as fish eggs.

How to identify: A mottled, bottom-living fish, similar to the Stone Loach, but with a deeply forked tail and only two barbels at the mouth.

Where: Found throughout the lowlands, widespread in England but rarer in Wales and Scotland.

Natural Superpowers

• Predator: 50
• Agility: 50
• Rarity: 40
• Cute factor: 30
• Traveller: 40

Fantastic fact: Gudgeon fishing picnics were popular on the Thames in the 19th century. The small fish can be eaten whole, like whitebait.

Photograph credit: Michel Roggo/naturepl