Okinawa goby
📖 Overview
Facultative air-breathing in the genus ; Lives among staghorn Acropora corals in lagoons and hovers among or above the branches and also rests on them ; a coral-commensal species . Occurs in aggregations of 5-15 individuals.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 11; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 9. Characterized by uniform bright yellow color; absence of scales; complete pelvic fin frenum and basal membrane; depth of body at level of pelvic fins 2.7-3.5 in SL .: short and / or deep; Cross section: compressed.
🌀 Behaviour
The yellow clown goby is not generally aggressive, though it actively protects its territory against other yellow clown gobies (hence, in the small confines of an aquarium tank, this goby is best kept singly or as a breeding pair). The primary defense against predators is a poisonous, bitter mucus on the skin that makes this goby unpalatable.
🦐 Diet
The yellow clown goby is a planktivore, and its diet consists mainly of mesoplankton. It is an opportunistic feeder: the typical eating behavior is to wait for food to come into range, at which point it darts out to grab it and then immediately returns to its roost.
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; reef-associated; depth range ? - 15 m , usually 2 - 15 m . Tropical; 20°C - 25°C ; 32°N - 24°S north to southern Japan, south to Rowley Shoals and the southern Great Barrier Reef.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Okinawa goby is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 17.9 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 123 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Okinawa goby has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🔬 Full Nutritional Profile
Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Okinawa Goby · Yellow Coral Goby · Yellow Coral-goby · Yellow-speckled Cave-goby · yellow clown goby |
| 🌍CES | hlaváč okinawský |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Kiiro-sangohaze · Kiirosangohaze · キイロサンゴハゼ |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Góbio-do-coral-de-Okinawa |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 黃體業鰕虎 · 黃體葉鰕虎 |
🦠 Common Diseases
The following diseases are known to affect Okinawa goby.
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 1 records indexed .
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