Leopard-spotted Goby

Thorogobius ephippiatus

Sighting evidence at The Gully, St. Abbs Head

The leopard-spotted goby is a cliff-face specialist found only on near-vertical rock walls in turbid-free cold British waters, making The Gully an ideal habitat. Its distinctive orange spots on a pale body make it one of the most photogenic macro subjects in UK diving. Pairs guard small territories on the upper wall faces between 5 and 15 m, where their tolerance of patient divers allows extended photography sessions.

Evidence at this site

No confirmed records on file at this site

Leopard-spotted Goby is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.

How is this calculated?

Sighting evidence is compiled from iNaturalist observation records within a set proximity radius, filtered for quality-grade observations. “Last confirmed” is the date of the most recent research-grade record. Record count covers a rolling 24-month window. Confidence reflects record count, recency, and consistency of seasonal signal.