|
Freshwater Fish of Victoria - Gobies | FN0081 |
Charles Barnham PSM
May, 1998 |  |
To view the Adobe Acrobat file, you will need the Adobe Acrobat reader. |  PDF 432 kb | |
Family:
Gobiidae
General characteristics:
No lateral line. Two dorsal fins. Pelvic fins (first fins on underside of body) joined to form a sucking disc.
Common Name:
Bridled Goby
Scientific Name:
Arenigobius bifrenatus (Kner, 1865)
Status:
Native
Description
Large head, bluntly rounded snout, bulbous cheeks. Moderate sized eyes, located high on the sides of the head. Oblique, upturned, moderately large mouth, the gape reaching to below the rear edge of the eye. Body covered by large, thin scales. Fourth and fifth spines of first dorsal fin are longest. Large long tail fin. Pale grey-green to light brown on upper body, almost white on the belly. Several purplish-black to brown stripes radiating from the eye; first one down from eye almost to just above the end of the mouth, second runs obliquely from eye back across the gill cover, third from rear of eye back to form a large blotch above the pectoral fin. Body covered by numerous blue-green spots. Many scales on the upper body have purplish margins. Dorsal fins colourless to grey, both with broad dark longitudinal strips and yellow edges. Tail fin greenish-grey with yellow white margin and three to five dark vertical bars across the lower half.
Distribution
Widespread and moderately common in Victorian coastal streams.
Habitat
Principally an estuarine species, also found in lower reaches of coastal streams and rivers. Prefers still or slow-moving waters with a silt or mud bottom and cover of rocks, logs and aquatic vegetation.
Brief Biology
Grows to 10 cm. A burrowing species which usually constructs a short burrow under a solid object such as a rock, retiring to this burrow when danger threatens. Spawning occurs during spring and summer, Eggs are adhesive and attached to a solid object, with the male usually staying nearby. Primarily carnivorous, feeding on aquatic invertebrates and smaller fish, but will also eat algae.
Other Notes
Attractive aquarium fish. Reputed to be an excellent bait fish for estuary perch.
Common Name:
Half-bridled Goby
Other Name/s:
Falsely-bridled Goby
Scientific Name:
Arenigobius frenatus (Gunther, 1861)
Status:
Native
Description
Similar to Bridled Goby, but differs in the following: top of head normally has four or more large dark spots; body has irregular vertical bands; tail fin is rounded.
Distribution
Eastern Australia, from northern Queensland to north-eastern Tasmania, west to Western Port in Victoria.
Habitat
Sea grass beds or mangrove creeks in estuaries and coastal lagoons.
Brief Biology
Grows to 11 cm.
Other Notes
Can be easily confused with Bridled Goby.
Common Name:
Tamar River Goby
Scientific Name:
Favonigobius tamarensis (Johnston, 1883)
Status:
Native
Description
Rounded body, flattened head with bulbous cheeks. Large, oblique, upturned mouth, which extends to below the eye. Eyes positioned high on the sides of the head. No head scales. Back colour is brown, grey-brown or pale grey, becoming lighter on the sides, light brown or cream belly. Often a brown stripe running from the eye to the middle of the upper jaw. Both dorsal fins often have light-coloured edges, with a dark brown stripe near the base of the first dorsal and a sometimes prominent black spot at the rear edge of the fin.
Second dorsal fin may have two or three, narrow, horizontal, brown stripes. Four or five dark saddle-like marks extend vertically from the back down the sides. A row of 6 to 9 dark blotches along the middle of the body. Fins are pale grey or brown.
Distribution
Widespread and common in Victorian coastal waters, often locally abundant.
Habitat
Primarily an estuarine species, but occasionally enters lower reaches of rivers and streams. Occurs also in coastal sand dune lakes. Prefers still or slow-flowing water with mud or silt substrate and cover provided by aquatic plants, rocks or fallen logs.
Brief Biology
Known to reach 11 cm in length. Little is known of the biology of this benthic, burrowing species. It may construct a burrow beneath a tree root or rock, or make use of a vacated burrow. Males become territorial during the breeding season, from about September to November. Apparently carnivorous, eating small burrowing invertebrates. Frequently feeds by taking a mouthfull of mud and forcing it through the gills, presumably to extract food items.
Common Name:
Blue-Spot Goby
Other Name/s:
Southern Goby, Swan River Goby
Scientific Name:
Pseudogobius olorum (Sauvage, 1880)
Status:
Native
Description
Rounded head with short snout and moderately small eyes positioned high on the sides of the head, near the tip of the snout. Small horizontal mouth reaching back to the middle of the eye. Large rounded tail fin. Light brown or green to yellowish on the upper body, lighter on the sides, cream or white belly. Scale edges are dark brown or grey and may form blotches. Body variably blotched; usually 5 to 6 brown blotches on the upper body. Brown mottling on the head, and a broad dusky stripe along the upper jaw. First dorsal fin has 2 or 3 dark narrow lines, often overlaid with a bright blue spot, with dense black and blue spots near the rear edge. Second dorsal fin and tail fin have lines of dark spots, and the anal fin often has a bluish edge. The paired fins are often translucent.
Distribution
Victoria coastal waters, common and abundant in some areas.
Habitat
Brackish lagoons and upper estuarine areas where there are bare muddy bottoms. Also occurs on rock substrates or amongst weeds.Moves into freshwater lower reaches for considerable distances and periods of time.
Brief Biology
Known to reach 7.5 cm in length, but not often found in Victoria above 3.5 cm. Burrowing fish, digging burrows beneath a stone or tree root, and often observed with only its head protruding from the burrow. Salinity tolerance is high, having been collected from lakes with salinities of 55,000 p.p.m. (nearly twice that of sea water). Breeding season believed to be early to late spring.
Females lay up to 150 eggs which are attached to the underside of a solid object which forms the roof of the burrow. Male remains with eggs, fanning them and defending them vigorously. Apparently carnivorous, diet includes small crustaceans associated with its weedy habitat, but also takes algae.
Other Notes
One of Victoria's smallest fish. Probably forms a major part of the diet of many wading birds since it inhabits very shallow water and its movements are often quite conspicuous.
Common Name:
Long-finned Goby
Other Name/s:
Spotted Goby
Scientific Name:
Favonigobius lateralis (Macleay, 1881)
Status:
Native
Description
Elongated body, with slightly depressed head. Small, slightly oblique mouth. Oval eyes, close together on the top of the head. Two well-separated dorsal fins, the rays of the second dorsal being long and reaching the base of the tail fin. Wide and rounded pectoral fins. Tail fin long and rounded. ventral fins united to form a sucking disc. Body covered with large scales; head has no scales. Body colour greenish, lighter below. Five or six reddish-brown blotches on the sides. Thin white vertical stripes on the lower body-spots on dorsal and tail fins. Dark blotches on the cheek and gill cover,
Distribution
Central Queensland, New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia.
Habitat
Shallow waters of estuaries and beaches, venturing in lower reaches of coastal fresh water streams.
Brief Biology
Grows to 9 cm.
Common Name:
Glass Goby
Scientific Name:
Gobiopterus semivestitus (Munro, 1949)
Status:
Native
Description
Tiny, transparent goby. Minute first dorsal fin, second dorsal fin and tail fin very short at the base. Small scattered black spots; thin black line along the side.
Distribution
Central Queensland to South Australia, excluding Tasmania.
Habitat
Estuaries and coastal bays, often entering freshwater.
Brief Biology
Reaches a length of 3.5 cm.
Other Notes
Extremely abundant in New South Wales, where it occurs in large schools, but because of its small size it is rarely noticed.
(no illustration available)
Common Name:
Pale Mangrove Goby
Scientific Name:
Mugilogobius paludis (Whitley, 1930)
Status:
Native
Description
Moderate head size, snout rounded in side view, head almost naked. First dorsal fin is low with a rounded margin. Grey to brown colour, head often darker then the body. Scattered, small irregular dark grey to block spots on the back. Black oblique bar sloping backward and downward from each pectoral fin base.
Distribution
Eastern and southern Australia, from southern Queensland to South Australia, excluding Tasmania.
Habitat
Normally found in mangroves or holes in sea grass areas, sometimes entering freshwater.
Brief Biology
A hardy species able to tolerate high water temperatures and a wide salinity range. Grows to a length of 6 cm.
Common Name:
Girdled Goby
Scientific Name:
Nesogobius sp. 1 (Formally undescribed)
Status:
Native
Description
Body about as deep as wide, elongate and rounded. Smallish mouth with gape barely reaching the eye. Eyes close together on top of head, separated by a narrow ridge. Dorsal fins well separated. Rounded pectoral fin. Long ventral fins which reach the anal fin, and are united to form an adhesive disc. Slightly rounded tail fin. Smallish scales on head and body. Light olive on the back, sides and belly whitish. Usually five cross-bars on the back. Thirteen narrow, grey vertical stripes on the sides. Grey dots on fins.
Distribution
Throughout coastal Victoria.
Habitat
Sandy areas in bays and estuaries.
Brief Biology
Grows to 9 cm.
Other Notes
Commonly mis-identified as Orange-spotted Goby, Nesogobius hinsbyi.
Common Name:
Castelnau's Goby
Other Name/s:
Sailfin Goby
Scientific Name:
Nesogobius pulchellus (Castelnau, 1872)
Status:
Native
Description
Head almost as broad as deep, eyes almost touching. Head and pectoral fins without scales. First dorsal fin begins above ventral fin, short tail fin with rounded margin. Grey to brown, with irregular brown mottling. Head often dark brown in males, paler in females. Thin dark bar from each eye to middle of jaws, extending onto lower surface of the head. Five to eight dark brown blotches on the sides. Thin, silver horizontal broken stripe along lower sides. Second dorsal fin often clear, with four or five oblique grey, thin stripes.
Distribution
Confined to southern Australia from Sydney (NSW) to Perth (WA), including Tasmania.
Habitat
Normally found in sandy areas associated with sea grass in bays and estuaries.
Brief Biology
Grows to a length of 6 cm.
Common Name:
Large-mouthed Goby
Scientific Name:
Redigobius macrostoma (Gunther, 1861?)
Status:
Native
Description
Small fish with very compressed head and body. Mature males are usually larger than mature females. Mature males have a very large mouth that extends behind the eye, mouth in mature females reaches the middle of the eye. Snout usually more pointed in females.
Distribution
Along the Victorian coast.
Habitat
Occurs in muddy, weedy or sea-grass estuaries. Sometimes found in rocky river mouths; may be found in fresh water.
Brief Biology
Reaches 5 cm, occasionally longer.
Other Notes
Hardy fish which lives well in aquaria and accepts dried foods.
Common Name:
Lagoon Goby
Scientific Name:
Tasmanogobius lasti (Hoese, 1991)
Status:
Native
Description
Slender body, head of moderate size, eyes almost touching. Jaws extend to below middle of eye. No scales on head, or immediately below the first dorsal fin. First dorsal fin has a gradually rounded margin, and a membrane from the last spine usually connects the second dorsal fin, which is long. Tan to pale brown with scattered small dark brown blotches. Thin vertical black bar from each eye to end of jaws. Two or three thin, wavy horizontal stripes on the upper body. Five or size small brown blotches along the side, often connected with white dashes. Lower half of body paler than upper half. Numerous small black spots on the tail fin forming wavy vertical bands.
Distribution
Confined to Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia.
Habitat
Normally found in estuaries and bays in burrows in silty sand or mud.
Brief Biology
Grows to a length of 5.5 cm.
Common Name:
Tasmanian Goby
Scientific Name:
Tasmanogobius lordi (Scott, 1935)
Status:
Native
Description
Elongated, rounded body with a rounded head. Mouth extends back to the eye. No scales on the head or body. Pale brown upper body, becoming lighter on the sides and belly; 6 to 8 brown blotches along the side. Two brown bars extend from each eye. Fins are translucent, sometimes with faint spots.
Distribution
Appears to be restricted to Tasmanian waters.
Habitat
Brackish estuaries or freshwater reaches where there are mud bottoms.
Brief Biology
Grows to 4 cm in length. Apparently migrates to lower marine estuarine areas to spawn in spring.
Common Name:
Yellow-fin Goby
Scientific Name:
Acanthogobius flavimanus
Status:
Introduced
Description
Easily identified due to its size. Adults have a large head and elongate body. Pale brownish with a series of dark saddles and spots. Juveniles have pale yellow ventral and anal fins. All ages possess yellow ventral fins whereas other Gobies have clear, white, grey or black ventral fins.
Distribution
Native to Japan, Korea and China. First recorded in Victoria in 1991 from the Yarra River just below Dights Falls, Melbourne. Specimens have since been collected from the lower reaches of the Yarra River, the Maribyrnong River, the Werribee River, and from Corio Bay near Geelong. So far all known locations are contained within the Port Phillip Bay catchment.
Habitat
Usually found in freshwater reaches of streams just above tidal influence during most of the year. Individual fish are commonly found in bays and inlets in water depths between 1 and 14 metres.
Brief Biology
Can grow to 30 cm in length, one of the largest growing Gobies in Victoria. During breeding season in winter months adult fish migrate downstream to spawn in the estuaries. Reported as aggressive; feeds on small fishes.
Other Notes
First discovered in Australia in Sydney Harbour in the 1970's. The fish is being transported around the globe in the ballast water or large bulk carrier ships.
If you catch a yellowfin goby, please report the capture to your nearest DPI Office - do not return the fish live to water.
Freshwater Fish of Victoria
is a series of brief information material on the native and introduced freshwater fish of Victoria's inland waters. Further, detailed reading on Gobies is contained in:
Freshwater Fishes of South-Eastern Australia
R M McDowall (Ed.)
A Guide to the Freshwater Fish of Victoria
Phillip Cadwallader & Gary Backhouse,
Department of Conservation and Environment
Australian Freshwater Fishes
John R. Merrick & Gunther E. Schmida
Biological Information for Management of Native Freshwater Fish in Victoria
J D Koehn, W G O'Connor
Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia
Rudie H. Kuiter
The Marine and Freshwater Fishes of South Australia
T D Scott, C J M Glover and R V Southcott
FOV 42 - Gobies
Prepared with the assistance of Gary Backhouse, Phillip Cadwallader and Tarmo Raadik.
This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its officers do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication.
|
