GOBIIDAE


Amoya moloana, 4.8 cm SL
(photo by Koichi Shibukawa)



Amoya moloana, 4.6 cm SL
(photo by Seishi Kimura)


Amoya moloana
(Herre, 1927)

D VI + I, 11-12; A I, 10; P1 17; LR 38-41; PDS 0-3.

Body elongate and compressed. Head slightly compressed; jaws subequal; snout rounded, protruding beyond upper jaw; gill opening extending anteriorly to a vertical through posterior margin of preopercle. Pelvic fins united medially; frenum present. Scales ctenoid, excluding those on anterior part of body cycloid; head naked. Sensory canals and pores present on head; longitudinal pattern of sensorypapillae rows on cheek; transverse row of sensory papillae just behind chin. Color: body pale grayish brown with 2-3 longitudinal rows of dusky spots (usually appearing as narrow horizontal lines); bright blue spots on head and body. Size: 6.0 cm SL. Distribution: Andaman Sea and West Pacific. Remarks: found in shallow tidal estuaries, especially mangrove area with sandy-mud bottoms.