Gobiinae
Encyclopedia
Gobiinae, the true gobies, are a subfamily of the goby family
(Gobiidae). They are found in all ocean
s and a few river
s and lake
s, but most live in warm waters. Altogether the Gobiinae unite almost 2000 described species
in 150 genera
, and new ones are still being discovered in numbers.
. The bulk of true gobies is less than 10 cm (4 in) long when fully grown. The largest species (tank goby, Glossogobius giuris
) can reach up to 50 cm (20 in); the smallest known species as of 2010, Trimmatom nanus
, is just about one cm (half an inch) in length when fully grown, making it one of the smallest vertebrate
s.
In many true gobies, the pelvic fins have grown together into a suction cup that they can use to hold on to substrate. Most have two dorsal fin
s, the first made up from spiny fin rays, while the other has some spines in the front followed by numerous soft rays.
They are most plentiful in the tropical and subtropical regions, but as a group are almost cosmopolitan
in marine ecosystem
s. A few species
tolerate brackish water, and some – Padogobius
and Pomatoschistus
species – even inhabit freshwater
. They are generally benthic as adults (the spawn
can distribute widely by ocean current
s), only the bearded goby (Sufflogobius bibarbatus) is noted to be quite pelagic throughout its life. Most inhabit some sort of burrow or crevice and are somewhat territorial
. In some cases, they live in symbioses with unrelated animals, such as crustacean
s.
The larger species are fished for food, in some cases on a commercial scale. Many Gobiinae species are popular aquarium
fish. Especially popular are the colorful species, some of which are regularly traded. More generally general, the interesting behavior and bold habits make most true gobies seem attractive pets. However, their territoriality and the fact that even the smallest species are fundamentally carnivorous and need living food to thrive makes them not easy to keep (particularly compared to the related sleeper gobies family Eleotridae). As typical for oceanic
fishes, many Gobiinae tend to be almost impossible to breed in captivity, and some species have become rare from habitat destruction
and overfishing
.
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
(Gobiidae). They are found in all ocean
Ocean
An ocean is a major body of saline water, and a principal component of the hydrosphere. Approximately 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by ocean, a continuous body of water that is customarily divided into several principal oceans and smaller seas.More than half of this area is over 3,000...
s and a few river
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
s and lake
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
s, but most live in warm waters. Altogether the Gobiinae unite almost 2000 described species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
in 150 genera
Genera
Genera is a commercial operating system and development environment for Lisp machines developed by Symbolics. It is essentially a fork of an earlier operating system originating on the MIT AI Lab's Lisp machines which Symbolics had used in common with LMI and Texas Instruments...
, and new ones are still being discovered in numbers.
Description and ecology
They are usually mid-sized to small ray-finned fishes; some are very colorful while others are crypticCrypsis
In ecology, crypsis is the ability of an organism to avoid observation or detection by other organisms. It may be either a predation strategy or an antipredator adaptation, and methods include camouflage, nocturnality, subterranean lifestyle, transparency, and mimicry...
. The bulk of true gobies is less than 10 cm (4 in) long when fully grown. The largest species (tank goby, Glossogobius giuris
Glossogobius giuris
Glossogobius giuris is a goby of the Gobiidae family, available in the Bay of Bengal. It is said to be the largest of the Gobiinae species.- Appearance, Size and Colouration :...
) can reach up to 50 cm (20 in); the smallest known species as of 2010, Trimmatom nanus
Trimmatom nanus
Trimmatom nanus is a species of marine fish in family Gobiidae of Perciformes. It is the type species of its genus. One of the fishes called dwarf gobies, it is native to the Chagos Archipelago and the Maldives in the western Indian Ocean....
, is just about one cm (half an inch) in length when fully grown, making it one of the smallest vertebrate
Vertebrate
Vertebrates are animals that are members of the subphylum Vertebrata . Vertebrates are the largest group of chordates, with currently about 58,000 species described. Vertebrates include the jawless fishes, bony fishes, sharks and rays, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds...
s.
In many true gobies, the pelvic fins have grown together into a suction cup that they can use to hold on to substrate. Most have two dorsal fin
Dorsal fin
A dorsal fin is a fin located on the backs of various unrelated marine and freshwater vertebrates, including most fishes, marine mammals , and the ichthyosaurs...
s, the first made up from spiny fin rays, while the other has some spines in the front followed by numerous soft rays.
They are most plentiful in the tropical and subtropical regions, but as a group are almost cosmopolitan
Cosmopolitan distribution
In biogeography, a taxon is said to have a cosmopolitan distribution if its range extends across all or most of the world in appropriate habitats. For instance, the killer whale has a cosmopolitan distribution, extending over most of the world's oceans. Other examples include humans, the lichen...
in marine ecosystem
Marine ecosystem
Marine ecosystems are among the largest of Earth's aquatic ecosystems. They include oceans, salt marsh and intertidal ecology, estuaries and lagoons, mangroves and coral reefs, the deep sea and the sea floor. They can be contrasted with freshwater ecosystems, which have a lower salt content. Marine...
s. A few species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
tolerate brackish water, and some – Padogobius
Padogobius
Padogobius is a genus of fish in the Gobiidae family.It contains the following species:* arno goby * Padus goby...
and Pomatoschistus
Pomatoschistus
Pomatoschistus is a genus of fish in the Gobiidae family.It contains 12 species:* Pomatoschistus bathi - Bath's goby* Pomatoschistus canestrinii - Canestrini's goby* Pomatoschistus knerii - Kner's goby...
species – even inhabit freshwater
Freshwater
Fresh water is naturally occurring water on the Earth's surface in ice sheets, ice caps, glaciers, bogs, ponds, lakes, rivers and streams, and underground as groundwater in aquifers and underground streams. Fresh water is generally characterized by having low concentrations of dissolved salts and...
. They are generally benthic as adults (the spawn
Spawn (biology)
Spawn refers to the eggs and sperm released or deposited, usually into water, by aquatic animals. As a verb, spawn refers to the process of releasing the eggs and sperm, also called spawning...
can distribute widely by ocean current
Ocean current
An ocean current is a continuous, directed movement of ocean water generated by the forces acting upon this mean flow, such as breaking waves, wind, Coriolis effect, cabbeling, temperature and salinity differences and tides caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun...
s), only the bearded goby (Sufflogobius bibarbatus) is noted to be quite pelagic throughout its life. Most inhabit some sort of burrow or crevice and are somewhat territorial
Territory (animal)
In ethology the term territory refers to any sociographical area that an animal of a particular species consistently defends against conspecifics...
. In some cases, they live in symbioses with unrelated animals, such as crustacean
Crustacean
Crustaceans form a very large group of arthropods, usually treated as a subphylum, which includes such familiar animals as crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, krill and barnacles. The 50,000 described species range in size from Stygotantulus stocki at , to the Japanese spider crab with a leg span...
s.
The larger species are fished for food, in some cases on a commercial scale. Many Gobiinae species are popular aquarium
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
fish. Especially popular are the colorful species, some of which are regularly traded. More generally general, the interesting behavior and bold habits make most true gobies seem attractive pets. However, their territoriality and the fact that even the smallest species are fundamentally carnivorous and need living food to thrive makes them not easy to keep (particularly compared to the related sleeper gobies family Eleotridae). As typical for oceanic
Oceanic
Oceanic may mean:*Of or relating to the ocean*Of or relating to Oceania*A person or the peoples of Oceania, also called "Pacific Islander"*The Oceanic languages*Oceanic climate-Ships:*RMS Oceanic *RMS Oceanic...
fishes, many Gobiinae tend to be almost impossible to breed in captivity, and some species have become rare from habitat destruction
Habitat destruction
Habitat destruction is the process in which natural habitat is rendered functionally unable to support the species present. In this process, the organisms that previously used the site are displaced or destroyed, reducing biodiversity. Habitat destruction by human activity mainly for the purpose of...
and overfishing
Overfishing
Overfishing occurs when fishing activities reduce fish stocks below an acceptable level. This can occur in any body of water from a pond to the oceans....
.
Genera
- Acentrogobius – Malagasy mountain mullet
- AfurcagobiusAfurcagobiusAfurcagobius is a small genus of fish in the family Gobiidae. There are two described species....
- Akko
- AmblyeleotrisAmblyeleotrisAmblyeleotris is a genus of colourful gobies found throughout the Indo-Pacific region. With 37 recognized species, this is the largest genus of the shrimp gobies or prawn gobies, so-called because of their symbiotic relationship with certain alpheid shrimps...
– shrimp gobies, prawn gobies - AmblygobiusAmblygobiusAmblygobius is a genus of fish in the family Gobiidae.- Species :* A. albimaculatus Goren, 1979* A. decussatus Prince Akihito, 1984* A. hectori Prince Akihito, 1984* A. linki Herre, 1927* A. nocturnus Prince Akihito, 1984...
- AmoyaAmoyaAmoya is a genus of fish in the family Gobiidae.- Species :* Amoya bifrenatus Larson & Hoese, 1996* Amoya moloanus Herre, 1927* Amoya signatus Hoese, 1986...
- Ancistrogobius
- Aphia – transparent goby
- Arcygobius
- Arenigobius
- Aruma
- AsraASRA-Organizations:*Aberdeen Schools Rowing Association*Alberta Science and Research Authority*American Show Racer Association*American Society of Regional Anesthesia*American Sportbike Racing Association*Association for the Study of Reptilia and Amphibia...
- Asterropteryx
- Aulopareia
- Austrolethops
- Barbulifer
- Barbuligobius
- Bathygobius
- Bollmannia
- BryaninopsBryaninopsBryaninops is a tropical Indo-Pacific genus of gobies. The genus takes its common name from the fact that it is commensal on gorgonians and black coral...
– sea whip gobies - Buenia
- Cabillus
- Caffrogobius
- Callogobius
- Chriolepis
- ChromogobiusChromogobiusChromogobius is a genus of goby .Consists of three species:*Chromogobius britoi *Chromogobius quadrivittatus *Chromogobius zebratus...
- Corcyrogobius
- Coryogalops
- Coryphopterus
- Coryphopterus glaucofraenumCoryphopterus glaucofraenumCoryphopterus glaucofraenum is a Goby from the Western Atlantic. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 8 cm in length....
- Coryphopterus glaucofraenum
- Cristatogobius
- Croilia – burrowing goby / naked goby
- Cryptocentroides
- Cryptocentrus – watchman gobies, "shrimp gobies", "prawn gobies"
- Cryptocentrus cinctusCryptocentrus cinctusCryptocentrus cinctus is a goby from the Western Pacific. This species is also known as Iga tubumata by the inhabitants of the Nggela Islands.-References:*, J Fung - Tropical Fish Hobbyist...
– yellow watchman goby - Cryptocentrus pavoninoidesCryptocentrus pavoninoidesCryptocentrus pavoninoides, commonly called Bluespotted Watchman goby, is a Goby from the Western Central Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 15 cm in length....
– blue-spotted watchman goby
- Cryptocentrus cinctus
- Crystallogobius
- CtenogobiopsCtenogobiopsCtenogobiops is a genus of saltwater fish in the family Gobiidae .They commonly live on sandy sea beds and are often found sharing burrows with small shrimp.-Species:* Ctenogobiops crocineus Smith, 1959...
- Deltentosteus
- Didogobius
- Discordipinna
- Drombus
- Ebomegobius
- Echinogobius
- EconomidichthysEconomidichthysEconomidichthys is a genus of fish in the Gobiidae family.It contains the following species:* Economidichthys pygmaeus* nanogoviós...
- Egglestonichthys
- Ego
- ElacatinusElacatinusElacatinus is a genus of marine gobies, often known collectively as the neon gobies. Although only one species, E. oceanops, is technically the "neon goby," because of their extremely similar appearance other members of the genus are generally labeled neon gobies as well.-Description:Neon gobies...
– neon gobies (including Gobiosoma) - Eleotrica
- Enypnias
- Evermannia
- Evermannichthys
- EviotaEviotaEviota is a genus of reef-associated gobies currently with 48 described species distributed throughout the Indo-Pacific region. These are very small fishes and many species are commonly called pygmy gobies, while some are known as fringefin gobies.-Species:*Eviota abax*Eviota...
– pygmy gobies, fringefin gobies - ExyriasExyriasExyrias is a genus of marine gobies with four described species found throughout the Indian and Pacific Oceans. These are relatively large gobies, typically found in turbid estuarine waters .-References: : Exyrias akihito, a new species of coral-reef goby...
- FavonigobiusFavonigobiusFavonigobius is a genus of gobies in the family Gobiidae . Commonly called "sand gobies", this term more alternatively refers to the family Kraemeriidae, a relative of the true gobies.-Species:* Favonigobius aliciae...
– "sand gobies" (including Papillogobius) - Feia
- FusigobiusFusigobiusFusigobius is a genus of coral reef inhabiting gobies found throughout the Indian and Pacific Oceans.-References:*...
- Gammogobius – Steinitz's goby
- Ginsburgellus
- Gladiogobius
- GlossogobiusGlossogobiusGlossogobius is a ray-finned fish genus in the subfamily Gobiinae of the goby family . The Tank Goby is the largest member of the subfamily, growing to about 50 cm long.Species include:* Glossogobius ankaranensis...
- GobiodonGobiodonGobioides is a genus of gobies also known as coral gobies or "clown gobies"...
– coral gobies, "clown gobies" - GobiopsisGobiopsisGobiopsis is a genus of gobies of the family Gobiidae.-Species:* Gobiopsis angustifrons Lachner & McKinney, 1978* Gobiopsis aporia Lachner & McKinney, 1978* Gobiopsis arenaria...
- Gobiosoma
- Gobiosoma multifasciatumGobiosoma multifasciatumThe Green banded goby, Elacatinus multifasciatum, is a member of the goby family native to the western Atlantic ocean, from the Bahamas and Central America to northern South America...
– green banded goby
- Gobiosoma multifasciatum
- GobiusGobiusGobius is a genus of fish in the Gobiidae family. It contains the typical gobies, being the type genus of its subfamily and family, and the namesake genus of its suborder .It contains the following species:...
– typical gobies - Gobiusculus – spotted goby
- Gobulus
- Gorogobius
- Grallenia
- Gymneleotris
- Hazeus
- Hetereleotris
- Heterogobius
- Heteroplopomus
- Hyrcanogobius
- Istigobius
- Kelloggella
- KnipowitschiaKnipowitschiaDwarf gobies and spring gobies make up the genus Knipowitschia of bone fish in the Gobiidae family.It contains 15 species:* Knipowitschia cameliae - Danube delta dwarf goby* Knipowitschia caucasica - Caucasian dwarf goby...
– dwarf gobies, spring gobies - Larsonella
- Lebetus
- Lesueurigobius
- Lesueurigobius friesiiLesueurigobius friesiiLesueurigobius friesii is a species of goby....
- Lesueurigobius friesii
- Lobulogobius
- Lophiogobius
- Lophogobius
- Lotilia
- Lubricogobius
- Luposicya
- Lythrypnus
- Lythrypnus dalliLythrypnus dalliLythrypnus dalli is a Goby from the Eastern Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 6.4 cm in length....
- Lythrypnus dalli
- Macrodontogobius
- Mahidolia (including Redigobius)
- Mahidolia mystacinaMahidolia mystacinaMahidolia mystacina, the Flagfin Prawn Goby, is a species of fish in the Gobiidae family.-Description:Mahidol mystacina,the Flagfin Prawn Goby or the Flagfin Shrimp Goby or Mahidol Smiling Goby fins have both rays and spines. The dorsal fin has 7 spines and 10 soft rays. The anal fin has a single...
– flagfin prawn goby
- Mahidolia mystacina
- Mangarinus
- Mauligobius
- Microgobius
- Millerigobius – large-headed gobyLarge-headed GobyThe large-headed goby is a fish species of the family Gobiidae. Its genus Millerigobius is monotypic.The natural range of this fish is coastal waters of the Adriatic Sea and Eastern Mediterranean...
- Myersina
- Nematogobius
- Nes
- Nesogobius
- Obliquogobius
- Odondebuenia – coralline goby
- Ophiogobius
- Oplopomops
- Oplopomus
- Opua
- PadogobiusPadogobiusPadogobius is a genus of fish in the Gobiidae family.It contains the following species:* arno goby * Padus goby...
- Palatogobius
- Palutrus
- Parachaeturichthys
- Paragobiodon
- Paratrimma
- Pariah
- Parkraemeria
- Parrella
- Phoxacromion
- Phyllogobius
- Platygobiopsis
- Pleurosicya
- Polyspondylogobius
- PomatoschistusPomatoschistusPomatoschistus is a genus of fish in the Gobiidae family.It contains 12 species:* Pomatoschistus bathi - Bath's goby* Pomatoschistus canestrinii - Canestrini's goby* Pomatoschistus knerii - Kner's goby...
- Porogobius
- PriolepisPriolepisPriolepis is a genus of fish in the Gobiidae family.It contains the following species:* Priolepis akihitoi* Priolepis cyanocephala* Priolepis profunda* Priolepis psygmophilia* Priolepis robinsi...
- Psammogobius
- Pseudaphya
- Psilogobius
- Psilotris
- Pycnomma
- Rhinogobiops – blackeye goby
- RisorRisorRisor is a genus of fish in the Gobiidae family. It may be monotypic; even though more than one species is placed here, the validity of all exceptone is unclear.Species include:* Risor ruber – Smallmouth Goby...
- Robinsichthys
- Signigobius – crab-eyed goby
- SilhouetteaSilhouetteaSilhouettea is a genus of fish in the Gobiidae family.It contains the following species:* Silhouettea aegyptia* Silhouettea capitlineta Randall, 2008* Silhouettea dotui* Silhouettea evanida* Silhouettea hoesei...
- Siphonogobius
- Speleogobius
- Stonogobiops
- Stonogobiops draculaStonogobiops draculaStonogobiops dracula is a Goby from the Western Indian Ocean. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 7 cm in length....
- Stonogobiops nematodes – black-ray gobyBlack-ray gobyThe black-ray Goby is a species of marine goby and is a member of the family of high fin gobies. This type of goby is also sometimes attributed the common name "shrimp goby" or "watchman goby"...
- Stonogobiops yashaStonogobiops yashaStonogobiops yasha is a Goby from the Western Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 4.7 cm in length....
- Stonogobiops dracula
- Sueviota
- Sufflogobius – bearded goby / pelagic goby
- Tasmanogobius
- Thorogobius
- TomiyamichthysTomiyamichthysTomiyamichthys is a small genus of fish in the family Gobiidae.-Species:*Tomiyamichthys alleni Iwata, Ohnishi and Hirata, 2000.*Tomiyamichthys oni .*Tomiyamichthys tanyspilus Randall & Chen, 2007.-References:...
(including Flabelligobius) - Trimma
- Trimma canaTrimma canaTrimma cana, commonly called the red striped goby, is a Goby from the Western Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 2.5 cm in length....
– red-striped goby
- Trimma cana
- Trimmatom
- Trimmatom nanusTrimmatom nanusTrimmatom nanus is a species of marine fish in family Gobiidae of Perciformes. It is the type species of its genus. One of the fishes called dwarf gobies, it is native to the Chagos Archipelago and the Maldives in the western Indian Ocean....
- Trimmatom nanus
- Tryssogobius
- ValencienneaValencienneaValenciennea is a genus of small, bottom-dwelling fish from the family Gobiidae. The members of the genus tend to rest directly on the substrate for extended periods of time. While this is a common behavior for members of the family, the Valenciennea also float motionless directly above the...
– hover gobies, "sleeper gobies" - VanderhorstiaVanderhorstiaVanderhorstia is a genus of fish from the family Gobiidae.-Selected species:*Vanderhorstia ambanoro *Vanderhorstia atriclypea *Vanderhorstia auropunctata...
- Vanneaugobius (formerly in Odondebuenia)
- Varicus
- Vomerogobius
- Wheelerigobius
- Wheelerigobius wirtzi – Cameroon gobyCameroon GobyThe Cameroon goby, Wheelerigobius wirtzi, is a species of fish in the Gobiidae family....
- Wheelerigobius wirtzi – Cameroon goby
- Yongeichthys
- Zebrus
- Zosterisessor – grass gobyGrass GobyThe grass goby, Zosterisessor ophiocephalus, is a species of fish in the Gobiidae family. It is a Mediterranean immigrant in the Black Sea fauna. Its genus Zosterisessor is monotypic.-Characteristic:...