Louisiade sand-goby

📖 Overview

Louisiade sand-goby (Hazeus paucisquamatus), first described by Allen, Erdmann & Brooks, 2024 is a tiny fish in the family Gobiidae (order Gobiiformes). Adults typically reach 2.50 cm in maximum length. It inhabits marine coastal and open-ocean environments. Recorded depth range: 15 to 20 metres. It occurs in Tropical waters. It is broadly omnivorous, taking invertebrates, plant matter, and detritus.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 10; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 8 - 10; Vertebrae: 26. This species is distinguished by the following: D VI + I,9-10 (usually 9), with first spine of first and second dorsal fins thickened, rigid, and pungent, all spines without filamentous tips, third spine longest; A I,8-10; pectoral-fin rays 15-17; branched caudal-fin rays 12-13 (usually 12); caudal fin rounded, shorter than HL; lateral scales 24-25; transverse scales 8; predorsal scales 7-8; ctenoid scales on body and nape, except embedded cycloid scales on prepelvic area and pectoral-fin base; preopercle with 3 small weakly ctenoid scales; rear corner, opercle with large weakly ctenoid scales confined to upper half; ‘mixed’ pattern of cephalic sensory papillae with two primary longitudinal rows and several transverse rows. Colouration: adult male when alive generally semi-translucent greyish with variable-sized brown and white spots and markings on head and body; five large tannish saddles along nape and upper back; a mid-lateral row of 6 dark-brown spots along the middle of side; blackish spots and bands on dorsal and caudal fins; anal fin brownish; pelvic fin white with a black median stripe; female similar to male, but lacking dark markings on fins .Cross section: oval.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Louisiade sand-goby is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 15 - 20 m . Tropical

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

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