Golden Sandgoby, Fusigobius aureus Chen & Shao 1997


Other Names: Goldspot Sandgoby

A Golden Sandgoby, Fusigobius aureus, at Bali, Indonesia, May 2017. Source: Jim Greenfield / iNaturalist.org. License: CC by Attribution-NonCommercial

Summary:
A semi-transparent greyish goby with scattered orange to brownish-orange spots, a brownish spot at middle of caudal-fin base, a pupil-sized orange to brownish-orange spot above pectoral-fin base, dorsal and caudal fins with orange spots, and a vertically-elongate black spot on the membrane between the first two dorsal-fin spines.

Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2022, Fusigobius aureus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 28 Mar 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/2224

Golden Sandgoby, Fusigobius aureus Chen & Shao 1997

More Info


Distribution

Recorded from Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea, and possibly the northern Great Barrier Reef. Occurs elsewhere in the tropical, west Pacific. Inhabits sandy areas on seawards reefs.

Features

Meristic features: Dorsal fin VI + I, 9; Anal fin I, 8; Pectoral fin 18-19; Longitudinal scale series 24-25. 

Body depth 4.3-4.8 in SL; gill opening extending to or almost to vertical at posterior edge of preopercle. Body scales ctenoid, becoming cycloid anterior to pectoral and pelvic fins; scales absent from operculum.
Pectoral fins large, rounded; pelvic fins largely separated but united at base, the connecting membrane very short and concave in outer margin, without inter-spine frenum; 5th pelvic-fin ray unbranched, about 60% length of 4th ray; caudal fin rounded.

Colour

Body with a row of golden-yellow spots along mid-line of lateral surfaces and with some rows of smaller golden-yellow spots on both dorsal and ventral surfaces. An oblique, yellow line on cheek and snout. Caudal-fin base with a diaper-shaped black blotch. Dorsal and caudal fins with some rows of smaller golden-yellow spots. First dorsal-fin with a large black blotch, with its lower half tinged orange. 

Etymology

The specific name is from the Latin aureus (= yellow) in reference to the many 'golden-yellow' spots scattered on the body and fins.

Species Citation

Fusigobius aureus Chen & Shao, 1997, Acta Zoologica Taiwanica 8(2): 88, figs 1-3. Type locality: Maumere, Flores Island, Indonesia. 

Author

Bray, D.J. 2022

Resources

Atlas of Living Australia

Golden Sandgoby, Fusigobius aureus Chen & Shao 1997

References


Allen, G.R. & Erdmann, M.V. 2012. Reef fishes of the East Indies. Perth : Tropical Reef Research 3 vols, 1260 pp.

Chen, I.-S. & Shao, K.-T. 1997. Fusigobius aureus, a new species of gobiid fish (Perciformes, Gobiidae) from Flores Island, Indonesia. Acta Zoologica Taiwanica 8(2): 87-92.

Randall, J.E. 2001. Five new Indo-Pacific gobiid fishes of the genus Coryphopterus. Zoological Studies 40(3): 206-225

Quick Facts


CAAB Code:37428365

Depth:5-25 m

Habitat:Reef associated

Max Size:7.5 cm TL

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