Scientific Name
Istigobius decoratus

Common Name
Decorated goby

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-11; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 9 - 11; Vertebrae: 26. Color highly variable. Segmented and non branching caudal rays 3 (rarely 2), branching 14 (rarely 15). Predorsal cycloid scales 7-10, trunk ctenoid. Few with no black spots on nape. Isthmus narrow, scaled forward to vertical at posterior part of preoperculum. 2 diagonal, dusky lines on operculum; an inverted U-shaped spot prominent at the distal end of upper jaw. Pectoral fin with small dusky spots; 2 longitudinal lines on pectoral base spreading onto it fin rays. Sexual dimorphism exhibited in anal, pelvic and 2nd dorsal fin.

Classification

Classified By

Herre, 1927

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Gobies (Gobiidae)

Distribution

Region

Indo-West Pacific

Distribution

Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea to Samoa, north to Taiwan, south to Lord Howe Island.

Range

30°N - 40°S

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

23 °C

Water Temperature To

29 °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

20 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 20 m (Ref. 9360), usually 1 - 18 m (Ref. 27115)

Trophic Level

3.2 s.e. 0.34 Based on size and trophs of closest relatives

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

13.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5005 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Aquarium: commercial

Vulnerability

Low to moderate vulnerability (26 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated