Scientific Name
Ptereleotris heteroptera

Common Name
Blacktail goby

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 29-33; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 27 - 30; Vertebrae: 26. Light blue to pale bluish gray; upper edge of operculum with a longitudinal iridescent blue band divided into 2 sections. Caudal fin yellowish, some with an orangish streak passing anteriorly from spot; 1st dorsal fin not as high as the 2nd; 2nd dorsal and anal fins not elevated anteriorly; pelvic fins not long; base of pectoral fin usually with a blue-edged salmon-pink spot.

Classification

Classified By

Bleeker, 1855

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Dartfishes (Ptereleotridae)

Distribution

Region

Indo-Pacific

Distribution

Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian, Line, Marquesan, and Society Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Lord Howe Island; Mariana, Caroline, and Marshall Islands in Micronesia.

Range

35°N - 35°S

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

22 °C

Water Temperature To

27 °C

Depth From - meters

5 m

Depth To - meters

46 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 5 - 46 m (Ref. 1602), usually 5 - 15 m (Ref. 27115)

Trophic Level

3.4 s.e. 0.45 Based on food items.

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

14.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Aquarium: commercial

Vulnerability

Low vulnerability (10 of 100)

Resilience

Unknown

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated