Yellowfin Goby, Acanthogobius flavimanus (Temminck & Schlegel 1845)

Other Names: Japanese Goby, Oriental Goby, Yellow-finned Goby

A Yellowfin Goby, Acanthogobius flavimanus, at Frankston, Port Phillip, Victoria, September 2023. Source: Bobbi O'Riley / iNaturalist.org . License: CC by Attribution-NonCommercial

Summary:

A relatively large brownish goby with a moderately long head, the eyes close together near top of head, darker mottling on the back and cheek, and a thin dark diagonal line from eye to rear margin of jaws. Midsides with 6-8 irregular darker blotches, and a dark round spot at the base of the tail. Upper part of pectoral-fin base with a short horizontal dark bar. Dorsal and caudal fin with fine speckled lines, pectoral fins yellow.

Accidentally introduced to Australia and California when juveniles or larvae were transported in ship's ballast water which was released in ports of call.

Cite this page as:

Bray, D.J. & Gomon, M.F. 2024, Acanthogobius flavimanus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 10 Apr 2025, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/58

Yellowfin Goby, Acanthogobius flavimanus (Temminck & Schlegel 1845)

More Info

Distribution	Native to temperate coastal waters of Japan, Korea and China. In Australia, recorded from New South Wales and Victoria. Builds burrows on muddy bottoms in shallow estuaries, harbours and in the lower reaches of rivers and streams, often far upstream. The Yellowfin Goby was accidentally introduced to Australia, and other countries, when larvae or juveniles were transported in ballast water in ships and the water was released in ports of call. To prevent further introductions, ships heading to Australia must now release their ballast water far offshore. Following its initial discovery in Sydney Harbour in 1971, the Yellowfin Goby spread up and down the NSW coast. Populations were discovered in the Hunter River system, the Hawkesbury River system, Botany Bay and the Georges River. In 1990, it was discovered in Port Phillip and was subsequently found in large numbers in the western part of the Bay and in the lower reaches of the Yarra River. In 2007, it was also found in the Tarwin River Estuary in Victoria. In April 2019, a Yellowfin Goby was photographed in Port Adelaide, South Australia.
Features	Dorsal fin VIII-IX, I, 12-14; Anal fin I, 11; Pectoral fin 21; Pelvic fin I, 5; Caudal fin (segmented rays) 17.
Size	To 29 cm TL, 25 cm SL.
Colour	Brownish with darker mottling on the back and cheek and a thin dark diagonal line from eye to rear margin of jaws. Midsides with 6-8 irregular darker blotches, and a dark round spot at the base of the tail. Upper part of pectoral-fin base with a short horizontal dark bar. Dorsal and caudal fin with fine speckled lines, pectoral fins yellow.
Feeding	Feeds on benthic invertebrates.
Biology	The sexes are separate and females spawn during winter and spring, and lay their demersal eggs into a nest.
Etymology	The species name flavimanus is Latin meaning "yellow fin".
Species Citation	Gobius flavimanus Temminck & Schlegel 1845, Fauna Japonica, Parts 7-9: 141, Pl. 74 (fig. 1). Type locality: River mouths of Nagasaki Bay, Japan
Author	Bray, D.J. & Gomon, M.F. 2024
Resources	Atlas of Living Australia Australian Faunal Directory Catalog of Fishes

Yellowfin Goby, Acanthogobius flavimanus (Temminck & Schlegel 1845)

References

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