Scientific Name
Istigobius spence

Common Name
Pearl goby

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.

Classification

Classified By

Smith, 1947

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Gobies (Gobiidae)

Distribution

Region

Indo-Pacific

Distribution

Indo-Pacific: Mozambique, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea, Australia, and Micronesia; undoubtedly more widespread.

Range

15°N - 40°S

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

12 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 12 m

Trophic Level

2.87 s.e. 0.28 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

7.9 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

Unknown

Vulnerability

Low vulnerability (24 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