GOBIIDAE

Gobies
By Koichi Shibukawa




Acentrogobius caninus

Acentrogobius cyanomos

Acentrogobius kranjiensis

Acentrogobius viridipunctatus

Amoya moloana

Brachygobius species

Cryptocentrus caeruleomaculatus

Cryptocentrus cyanotaenia

Cryptocentrus leptocephalus

Cryptocentrus species

Drombus triangularis

Favonigobius melanobranchus

Favonigobius reichei

Gobiopterus species

Hemigobius hoevenii

Istigobius diadema

Mahidolia mystacina

Myersina species

Pandaka lidwilli

Pandaka pygmaea

Parioglossus palustris

Periophthalmus novemradiatus

Psammogobius biocellatus

Pseudogobius javanicus

Silhouettea species

Stigmatogobius sadanundio

Yongeichthys criniger


Small to moderate-sized fishes, found in marine, brackish or freshwater areas. Body shape highly variable, but, typically, moderately elongate and more or less compressed posteriorly; no pored or tubed lateral-line scales on body. Teeth typically conical (flattened and incisor-like in some genera), forming a single to several rows in each jaw; minute sensory papillae well developed on head (and few on body and caudal fin), forming transverse or longitudinal rows; five branchiostegal rays. Usually two dorsal fins, first one with 0 - X flexible spines, second one usually with I spine and 5 - 66 soft rays; anal fin usually with I flexible spine and 5 - 65 soft rays; pectoral fin with 12 - 65 soft rays; dorsal and anal fin spines usually narrow and flexible; pelvic fins fused medially, exclusive of several coral reef genera with separated ones; pelvic fin usually with I spine and 4 - 5 soft rays. Scales cycloid or ctenoid (with peripheral cteni only), minute to moderately large in size. Color: highly variable.

Similar families occurring in the area. Blenniidae: single dorsal fin (sometimes deep notch developed between spinous and soft portions); teeth incisor-like, forming single row in each jaw; pelvic fins separated. Callionymidae: preopercle with a strong spine; no scales on body; gill opening restricted to a small dorsal or dorsolateral pore. Eleotridae: pelvic fins separated; six branchiostegal rays. Platycephalidae: many short spines or bony tubercles on head; pelvic fins separated. Tripterygiidae: three dorsal fins; pelvic fins separated.