HomeFish encyclopediaRay-finned fishesPerch-like fishGobiesChequered mangrove goby Chequered mangrove goby (Mugilogobius mertoni) Scientific name: Mugilogobius mertoni Weber, 1911 The Chequered mangrove goby (Mugilogobius mertoni) is a freshwater fish of the family Gobiidae. Native range: Indo Pacific. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6-8; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 6 - 8. Elongated body, rounded head, mouth terminal to sub-terminal. 2 dorsal fins. First with 6 spines with second or third the longest ones. Second dorsal with one spine and 6 to 8 soft rays. 26 to 37 scales in lateral series, 8 to 13 in posterior transverse series and 9 to 19 small predorsal scales. Cheeks naked, small scales on opercle. caudal. Base of pectoral fins shows small cycloid scales so does prepelvic area. Belly with cnetoid scales. Caudal rounded. Body brownish, grey-yellow to grey-violet with 7 to 11 dark diagonal stripes diagonales on the flanks. 2 to 3 black spots or short stripes at the base of the caudal. First dorsal with a black mark and a white stripe on its superior margin, base of the second dorsal sometimes with 1 or 2 raws of elongated grey or black marks. Caudal and pelvic usually hyalin to greyish. One striking black mark at the base of the pectorals.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameMugilogobius mertoniFamilyGobiidae (Gobies)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length6.0EnvironmentMarine; freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic; amphidromousClimateTropicalDistributionIndo Pacific.Conservation status (IUCN)Not EvaluatedThreat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries:ResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026