Teleostei (teleosts) >
Gobiiformes (Gobies) >
Gobiidae (Gobies) > Gobiinae
Etymology: Amblygobius: Greek, amblys = darkness + Latin gobius = gudgeon (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Valenciennes.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range ? - 52 m (Ref. 86942), usually 2 - 20 m (Ref. 27115). Tropical; 22°C - 30°C (Ref. 27115); 30°N - 32°S
Pacific Ocean: Philippines to the Society Islands, north to Ryukyu Islands, south to southern Australia (including Lord Howe Island) and Rapa Island; throughout Micronesia.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 15.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9710)
Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 15; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 14. Characterized by overall greenish brown body color with five dark brown to blackish bars; presence of pale edged dark stripe through eye and another across cheek; head with white streaks; small white spots in 3-4 horizontal rows on body; first dorsal fin with black spot and another on upper caudal fin base; prolonged third and fourth dorsal spines as short filaments, first dorsal spine longer than second; rounded caudal fin; longitudinal scale series 50-55; ctenoid scales; cycloid scales on nape, abdomen, and breast; predorsal scales extending to interorbital space; scales dorsally on opercle, absent on cheek; depth of body 3.4-4.6 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Solitary or in pairs (Ref. 90102). Adults inhabit coastal reefs and lagoons on sand and rubble margins of algal reefs and sometimes near seagrass beds (Ref. 48637). Feed by sifting mouthfuls of sand and expelling it through the gills, to capture small invertebrates, organic matter, and large quantities of algae. Monogamous (Ref. 52884). Spawning is synchronous with semilunar periods (Ref. 84980). Eggs are deposited in burrows which are tended by the male parent (Ref. 55919, 84980). Minimum depth reported from Ref. 27115. Also Ref. 58652.
Monogamous mating is observed as both facultative and social (Ref. 52884, 58559). Although a few pairs changed partners, most pairs remained together over successive rounds of spawnings according to a study (Ref. 84980). Spawning cycle is semilunar. Males construct burrows where the eggs are deposited. Only the males guard the burrows, occassionaly fanning the eggs to provide oxygenated sea water to the burrow. They do this about 41% of the time at the expense of feeding. Egg guarding lasts for 3-4 days after which the eggs hatch in time for the full or new moon phases (Ref. 84980). Parental care shifted from male to female in a study where the male parent was removed from the burrow which according to the study could be attributed to the spatial closeness of the parents and no requirement of special structures for guarding the offsprings (Ref. ).
Myers, R.F., 1991. Micronesian reef fishes. Second Ed. Coral Graphics, Barrigada, Guam. 298 p. (Ref. 1602)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00776 (0.00485 - 0.01241), b=3.04 (2.91 - 3.17), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & (Sub)family-body (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.6 ±0.4 se; based on diet studies.
Generation time: 0.4 ( na - na) years. Estimated as median ln(3)/K based on 2
growth studies.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Fec = 37,665 (clutch size)).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 128 [69, 285] mg/100g; Iron = 1.1 [0.5, 2.1] mg/100g; Protein = 18.8 [16.8, 20.5] %; Omega3 = 0.151 [0.068, 0.307] g/100g; Selenium = 44.5 [20.0, 92.8] μg/100g; VitaminA = 47.6 [13.1, 159.7] μg/100g; Zinc = 1.92 [1.23, 2.89] mg/100g (wet weight);
