Shadow goby
📖 Overview
Solitary . Found over silty and muddy bottoms around inner reefs. Common in mangroves, entering estuaries and rivers . Toxin concentrated in the skin; contains 28.7 µg/g tetrodotoxin in the internal organs while the flesh holds 1.7 µg/g .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 9. Diagnosis: Characterized by pale grey body colour with three large dark brown blotches on side; head and body with faint brown scribbling; elongate and filamentous second and third dorsal spines; rounded caudal fin, slightly shorter than head; longitudinal scale series 26-30; head without scales; ctenoid body scales except cycloid on breast, base of pectoral fin and anterior part of abdomen; midline of nape without scales or 1-2 scales just before origin of dorsal fin; depth of body 3.2-3.4 times in standard length .: fusiform / normal; Cross section: oval.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Shadow goby is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; freshwater; brackish; reef-associated; amphidromous ; depth range 0 - 15 m . Tropical; 35°N - 35°S, 20°E - 166°W West Pacific: East Africa, south to Durban in South Africa (Ref.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
⚠️ Venom Profile
- immediate intense pain
- swelling
- erythema
- occasional nausea and weakness
Analgesia; wound care; tetanus prophylaxis; severe cases may require monitoring for systemic effects.
References: Compiled from Bhide (2018), Halstead et al. (1988) and family-specific envenomation literature
🔍 Similar Species
👥 Community & Contribute
No observations yet - be the first to log one!
View all observations for Shadow goby ↗Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.
Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.