Pearl goby (Istigobius spence)

Scientific name: Istigobius spence Smith, 1947

Pearl goby (Istigobius spence)

The Pearl goby (Istigobius spence) is a brackish-water fish of the family Gobiidae. Native range: Indo-Pacific, Mozambique, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea, Australia, and Micronesia; undoubtedly more widespread.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-11; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 9 - 10; Vertebrae: 26. Pectoral fin rays entire. Predorsal cycloid scale 7-10, ctenoid on trunk. Few spots on nape; a dusky line running from eye dorsal to sensory pore path, ending at or before pectoral fin base; wavy brown lines on the snout. Pelvic and distal part of anal fins darker in males than in females. Appressed anal fin reaching within a distance of 1-2 scales of caudal fin in male, 2-4 scales in female; appressed 2nd dorsal slightly overlapping caudal in male. Some males exhibit 3-4 vertical bars on abdomen and 2-3 horizontal bars in 1st dorsal fin.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Istigobius spence
Family
Gobiidae (Gobies)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
7.9
Depth range
0–12 m (0–39 ft)
Environment
Marine; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 12 m
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Mozambique, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea, Australia, and Micronesia; undoubtedly more widespread.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Resilience
High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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