Dalhousie Goby, Chlamydogobius gloveri Larson 1995

Summary:

A small desert goby found only in Dalhousie Springs in Central Australia.

Identifying features:
Dusky grey above, paler below;
First dorsal fin of males with a pale blue central stripe and a yellowish margin;
Second dorsal and anal fins of males with a bluish-white margin, a brownish submarginal band, and bluish spots near base;
Caudal fin of males with vertical rows pale and darker spots and blotches;
Females overall paler than males with pale blue spots on middle of first dorsal fin.

Cite this page as:

Martin F. Gomon & Dianne J. Bray, Chlamydogobius gloveri in Fishes of Australia, accessed 11 Dec 2023, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1324

Dalhousie Goby, Chlamydogobius gloveri Larson 1995

More Info

Distribution	Known only from a single locality, Dalhousie Springs (26°25'S), SA; a temperate benthic species, inhabiting shallow water at the edge of warm spring-fed freshwater pools. Tolerant of temperatures from 21.6°C to 43.9°C.
Features	Meristic features: Dorsal-fin rays: V; I, 6-8 Anal-fin rays: I, 6-7 Pectoral-fin rays: 15-17 Caudal-fin rays: (segmented rays) 15-17 (branched rays) 13-16 Pelvic-fin spines/rays: I, 5 Vertebrae: 10-11 + 16-18 = 27-29 Gill rakers: 2-3 +6-7 = 8-10 TRB 11-16 Body cylindrical anteriorly, compressed posteriorly. Head short, somewhat rounded to rectangular in cross section, length 3.1-3.69 in SL. Snout rounded to rather flattened. Anterior nostril in very short tube on preorbital just behind upper lip, tube oriented down and forward, preorbital curved forward slightly to accommodate nostril. Posterior nostril small, oval, halfway between front centre margin of eye and preorbital edge. Eyes lateral, high on head, top usually part of dorsal profile, 3.5-4.7 in HL. Interorbital broad, flat; top of head rarely with fine villi. Lips usually smooth, lower lip free at sides, fused across front. Mouth terminal to subterminal, slightly oblique, generally reaching to below front half of eye; teeth of upper jaw in 2-3 rows, outermost larger than others, curved, others slightly smaller; teeth of lower jaw in about 3 rows; tips of teeth sometimes lightly tinted translucent brown; teeth slightly larger in males than females; tongue broad, usually blunt or rounded. Gill opening restricted to pectoral base; inner edge of shoulder girdle smooth with no bony ridge or fleshy knobs or flaps. Body scales mostly cycloid, ctenoid scales in patch behind pectoral fin, and sometimes along mid-line of side from posterior caudal peduncle forward, but not to patch behind pectoral fin; predorsal scales evenly small, usually reaching forward to above preopercular margin or further up to behind eyes; operculum with patch of small cycloid scales on upper three-quarters to half; cheek naked; pectoral fin base covered with cycloid scales. Prepelvic area covered with small cycloid scales. Belly with isolated patch of ctenoid scales under pelvics, rest cycloid. Lateral line absent; lateral scale series 35-42. Head pores absent. predorsal scale count 13-18, circumpeduncular scales 16-19. Two dorsal fins, first low, rounded, spines not reaching second dorsal when depressed; second dorsal and anal fins low, with short bases, last rays not reaching caudal fin. Pectoral fin broad, rounded. Pelvic fins united into complete disc, small, rounded to oval, occasionally reaching half distance to anus. Caudal fin rounded.
Size	To around 4.5 cm SL.
Colour	Bluish grey to greenish grey with fine greyish brown vermiculations and spotting dorsally; paler ventrally, whitish peritoneum visible through body wall; most scales with greyish brown margin or spot, forming line along mid-side of body in some, especially posteriorly. Snout, suborbital, upper half of preopercle and opercle with indistinct greenish brown mottling, lower half of opercle whitish; lips greenish grey, lower lip paler than upper lip in male. First dorsal fin of females mostly translucent with white blotches proximally, and scattered blue spots forming central band, posteriormost blue spot largest; males with first dorsal fin pale golden brown proximally and broad pale blue stripe across middle, stripe narrow anteriorly and widening posteriorly to cover most of rear of fin, upper third of fin dull yellow; second dorsal fin of females translucent brownish with pale gold to whitish spots and streaks alternating with pale brown spots; anterior quarter of fin plain translucent; second dorsal fin of males dull olive brown with broad brownish grey submarginal band, lower half of fin scattered with light blue and golden spots. Anal fin translucent brownish with dull yellowish white or blue marginal band and scattered yellowish white or blue patches or streaks on proximal third of fin. Caudal fin translucent brownish with vertical rows of fine pale brown to dull white spots and small blotches, markings more diffuse ventrally. Pectoral fin translucent, rays dusky. Pelvic fins whitish to translucent brown.
Feeding	Omnivorous, feeding mainly on filamentous algae, small crustaceans and insects.
Biology	Oviparous, benthic spawners. Spawning occurs during summer. Males guard the eggs, fanning them almost constantly until hatching. Adhesive eggs are deposited into rocky crevices.
Conservation	EPBC Act 1999 : Rare IUCN Red List : Vulnerable
Etymology	Species named for John Glover, recognising his work on desert gobies and other Australian and zone fishes.
Species Citation	Chlamydogobius gloveri Larson, 1995, The Beagle 12: 28, figs 3–6, pls 1–2. Type locality: Dalhousie Springs, South Australia.
Author	Martin F. Gomon & Dianne J. Bray

Dalhousie Goby, Chlamydogobius gloveri Larson 1995

References

Allen, G.R., Midgley, S.H. & Allen, M. (2002). Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia. Perth : Western Australian Museum 394 pp.

Larson, H.K. (1995). A review of the Australian endemic gobiid fish genus Chlamydogobius with descriptions of five new species. The Beagle. Rec. Mus. Art. Gall. N. Terr. 12: 19–51

Wager, R. 1996. Chlamydogo.bius gloveri. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 17 February 2012.