GOBIIDAE


Pandaka pygmaea, 1.0 cm SL
(photo by Koichi Shibukawa)


Pandaka pygmaea
Herre, 1927
Dwarf Pygmy Goby

D VI+7; A 7; P1 15-16; LR 20; PDS 0.

Body relatively short, compressed. Head slightly depressed; jaws subequal; gill opening not extending anteriorly to a vertical through preopercular margin. Pelvic fins united medially; frenum present. Scales on body ctenoid, and cycloid in anterior part; head naked. Sensory canals and pores absent on head; reduced longitudinal pattern of sensory-papillae rows on cheek. Color: body subtranslucent (immediately turned to pale just after death) with many distinct black spots; anterior part of first dorsal fin black; black spot at mid-lateral caudal-fin base large, well protruding anteriorly beyond hypural end. Size: 1.1 cm SL. Distribution: Andaman Sea and West Pacific. Remarks: found in quiet waters of mangrove areas with soft muddy bottom around aquatic plants.