Oplopomus oplopomus (Valenciennes, 1837)
Spinecheek goby
Oplopomus oplopomus
photo by Hazes, B.

Family:  Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobiinae
Max. size:  10 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 1 - 30 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Society Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands (Ref. 559).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-10; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 10-10. Males with more intense blue spots on the head and more colorful markings on fins than females; subadults lack the blue and yellow spotting but have more black spots (Ref. 1602); characterized further by having forth and fifth dorsal spines prolonged in male and may have filamentous tips; strong and sharp tipped first spine of each dorsal fin; united pelvic fins, well developed frenum present; rounded caudal fin, shorter than head length; longitudinal scale series 29-30; predorsal scales about 13; mainly ctenoid scales on body; cycloid scales on prepectoral area, breast and abdomen; preopercular margin just above angle with 1-3 small spines; depth of body 4.0-4.6 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Inhabits silty bottoms of inner lagoons and bays (Ref. 9710). Solitary or in pairs (Ref. 90102). Also occurred in shallow to deep coastal sand and mud flats, usually on the sand near large depression with burrow in the middle (Ref. 48637).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 28 June 2018 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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