Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Perciformes (Perch-likes) >
Gobiidae (Gobies) > Gobiinae
Etymology: Glossogobius: Greek, glossa = tongue + Latin, gobius = gudgeon (Ref. 45335).
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Marine; freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic; amphidromous (Ref. 51243). Tropical; 25°C - ? (Ref. 2059); 45°N - 32°S
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 50.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4967); common length : 11.3 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 35840)
Dorsal
spines
(total): 7;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 8-9;
Anal
spines: 1;
Anal
soft rays: 8 - 9. Head flattened, lower jaw projecting; body pale without longitudinal lines (Ref. 4967). Dorsal fins with small spots forming longitudinal stripes (Ref. 2798). Pelvic fins jointed but attached to the body only from their anterior part. The body is brownish yellow with 5 to 6 dark and rounded spots on its sides. Some specimens living on dark substrates can be very dark also. Some living on very light substrates show an ivory coloration. Dorsal fins are light with brownish spots. Pelvic fins are grey. Pectorals and caudal are grey and often hyaline (Ref. 48660).
Africa to Oceania: Red Sea and East Africa and most inland freshwater bodies over the Indian Ocean and western Pacific. Common in coastal and estuarine waters from austral Africa and Madagascar to India and south of China.
Found mainly in freshwater and estuaries, but also enter the sea (Ref. 4833). Also occur in canals, ditches and ponds (Ref. 12693). Found in clear to turbid streams with rock, gravel or sand bottoms (Ref. 2847). Encountered in medium to large-sized rivers of the lower Mekong (Ref. 12975). Feed on small insects, crustaceans and small fish. Grow to a much larger size in brackish water than in fresh water. Marketed fresh (Ref. 12693). Cannibalism is relatively common for this species (Ref. 48660).
Maugé, L.A., 1986. Gobiidae. p. 358-388. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). ISNB, Brussels; MRAC, Tervuren; and ORSTOM, Paris. Vol. 2.
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 90363)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquaculture: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Tools
Special reports
Download XML
Internet sources
Estimates of some properties based on empirical models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82805): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00924 (-0.08375 - 0.10223), b=3.04 (2.97 - 3.10), based on LWR estimates for species & family-BS (Ref.
93245).
Trophic Level (Ref.
69278): 3.8 ±0.6 se; Based on diet studies.
Resilience (Ref.
69278): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low to moderate vulnerability (26 of 100) .