Spikefin Goby, Discordipinna griessingeri Hoese & Fourmanoir 1978


Other Names: Flame Goby, Spike-fin Goby

A Spikefin Goby, Discordipinna griessingeri, in Triton Bay, West Papua, Indonesia. Source: Gerald R. Allen / FishBase. License: All rights reserved

Summary:
This spectacular tiny goby usually shelters in crevices on outer reef slopes. Although sometimes referred to as the flaming prawn goby, Discordipinna griessingeri does not live in association with burrowing shrimps.

Video of a Spikefin Goby showing it's characteristic fin-flaring 'dancing' behaviour.

Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2017, Discordipinna griessingeri in Fishes of Australia, accessed 29 Mar 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/1336

Spikefin Goby, Discordipinna griessingeri Hoese & Fourmanoir 1978

More Info


Distribution

Widespread in the Indo-West Pacific, and also found in the Red Sea. Known in Australian waters from Scott Reef, Western Australia, and from the Great Barrier Reef off Cape York to One Tree Island in the Capricron-Bunker Group, Queensland. Inhabits areas with live coral, rubble, and sand, in depths of 2-37 m.

Features

Dorsal-fin spines/rays V-VI, 7-8;  Anal-fin I, 8; Pectoral-fin rays 17-20; longitudinal scale rows 22–25; transverse scale rows usually 6–7; dorsal pterygiophore formulae 3/41001/8; Vertebrae 10 + 16 = 26

First dorsal fin of males with anterior two rays the longest, fin membrane deeply indented between the first two dorsal spines; a reduced head lateral-line system; infraorbital papillae in a longitudinal series; anterior oculoscapular canal present; preopercular and posterior oculoscapular canals absent.

Size


Colour

Body creamish-yellow; underside of body and lower part of caudal fin brownish-orange; head with dark brown spots; first dorsal fin orange-red; pectoral fin orange with an oblique translucent band; second dorsal fin orange with a translucent band near the base and the outer part with ; caudal fin with a broad white longitudinal band and upper part with several orange-brown blotches each with a central black spot.

Species Citation

Discordipinna griessingeri Hoese & Fourmanoir, 1978, Japan. J. Ichthyol. 25(1): 20, figs 1-4. Type locality: El Himeira, Red Sea.

Author

Bray, D.J. 2017

Resources

Australian Faunal Directory

Spikefin Goby, Discordipinna griessingeri Hoese & Fourmanoir 1978

References


Akihito, Sakamoto, K., Ikeda, Y. & Sugiyama, K. 2002. Gobioidei. in Nakabo, T. [ed.] Fishes of Japan with pictorial keys to the species. English edition. Tokai University Press, Tokyo, pp. 1139–1310, 1596–1619.

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

Allen, G.R. & M. Adrim. 2003. Coral reef fishes of Indonesia. Zool. Stud. 42(1): 1-72.

Allen, G.R. & Smith-Vaniz, W.F. 1994. Fishes of Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Atoll Research Bulletin 412: 1-21

Chen, I-S., Suzuki, T. & Shao, K-T. 2012. A new deepwater goby of the genus Discordipinna Hoese & Fourmanoir, 1978 (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from Kumejima of the Ryukyus, Japan, (pp. 274-280), in Naruse, T., Chan, T.-Y., Tan, H.H., Ahyong, S.T. & Reimer, J.D. (2012) Scientific Results of the Marine Biodiversity Expedition - Kumejima 2009. Zootaxa 3367: 1–280.

Hagiwara, K., Ikeda, Y. & Hayashi, M. 1996. First record of the gobiid fish, Discordipinna griessingeri (Peciformes; Gobiidae) from Japanese waters. I. O. P. Diving News 7(8): 2–6. (In Japanese)

Hoese, D.F. & Fourmanoir, P. 1978. Discordipinna griessingeri, a new genus and species of gobiid fish from the tropical Indo-west Pacific. Japanese Journal of Ichthyology 25(1): 19-24 figs 1-4

Kuiter R.W. & Tonozuka, T. 2001. Indonesian Reef Fishes. Part 3. Melbourne : Zoonetics pp. 623–893.

Motomura, H. & Matsuura, K. [eds] 2010. Fishes of Yaku-shima Island. National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo: 208.

Randall, J.E. 2005. Reef and shore fishes of the South Pacific. New Caledonia to Tahiti and the Pitcairn Islands. Honolulu : University of Hawaii Press 707 pp.

Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & Steene, R. 1990. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 507 pp. figs.

Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & Steene, R. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 557 pp. figs.

Russell, B.C. 1983. Annotated checklist of the coral reef fishes in the Capricorn-Bunker group, Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. Special Publication Series 1: 1-184 figs 1-2

Suzuki, T. & Shibukawa, K. 2004. Genus Discordipinna and Gobiidae indet. Gen. and sp. 14. In Senou, H. [ed.] A
Photographic Guide to the Gobioid Fishes of Japan
. Heibonsha, Tokyo, pp 443–444, 480–481. (in Japanese)

Quick Facts


CAAB Code:37428111

Depth:2-37 m

Habitat:Reef associated

Max Size:3 cm TL

Species Image Gallery

Species Maps

CAAB distribution map