''Aphia minuta'', the transparent goby, is a species of the goby native to the northeastern Atlantic Ocean where it can be found from Trondheim, Norway to Morocco. It is also found in the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean, Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. It is a pelagic species, inhabiting inshore waters and estuaries. It can be found at depths of from the surface to , though it is usually found at , over sandy and muddy bottoms and also in Zostera, eelgrass beds. This species can reach a length of fish measurement, TL. It is an important species to local commercial fisheries. It is currently the only known member of its genus.

Gastronomy

This fish is appreciated in Spain as part of the Andalusian cuisine, Andalusian, Catalan cuisine, Catalan and Valencian cuisines, and in Italy as part of the Italian cuisine. In Andalusia where they are called ''chanquetes'', they are traditionally served deep-fried, with fried eggs and roasted or fried bell pepper. Due to their high price and to their now protected species status in Spain, they are often replaced by some species of East Asian Salangidae, noodlefishes, locally called ''chanquete chino'' (Chinese ''chanquete''), ''Neosalanx tangkahkeii'' and ''Protosalanx''. This replacement is often done openly, but sometimes it is done fraudulently.

References

External links

Gobiinae, transparent goby Marine fish of Europe Marine fauna of North Africa Fish of Western Asia Fish of the Mediterranean Sea Fish of the Black Sea Fish of the North Sea Fish described in 1810, transparent goby Monotypic fish genera {{Gobiidae-stub