Sponge Frillgoby, Bathygobius mero Allen, Erdmann & Ichida 2024
A Sponge Frillgoby, Bathygobius mero, on the surface of a barrel sponge in Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia, January 2025. Source: Kristin Anderson / iNaturalist.org. License: CC by Attribution-NonCommercial
Summary:
An overall pale greyish goby with a dense covering of reddish-brown freckles, an indistinct brown spot about one-third of pupil size at uppermost part of gill opening, and reddish-brown spotting on the fins.
Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2025, Bathygobius mero in Fishes of Australia, accessed 04 Jun 2026, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/5784
Sponge Frillgoby, Bathygobius mero Allen, Erdmann & Ichida 2024
More Info
|
Distribution |
Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia, and the Gulf of Carpentaria, Queensland. Elsewhere the species occurs in the Western Pacific: Bali and Sumba, Indonesia, and Cebu, Philippines. The species is commensal with the large barrel sponge (Xestospongia testudinaria). It inhabits the deep, convoluted ravines between the longitudinal ridges on the outer surface of the sponge and not the hollow central cavity. |
|
Features |
Dorsal fin VI + I, 9; Anal fin I, 8; Pectoral fin 19-21; Lateral scale series 33-34; Transverse scales (backwards) 11-12; Predorsal sales (median) 2-3. No skin flaps on pores or anterior nasal tube; cheek with a slight fold; tongue tip with a median notch. Cheek and opercular scales absent; pectoral-fin base, abdomen, and prepelvic region with embedded cycloid scales. Mental frenum with a straight margin and short lateral lobes; pelvic interspinal membrane without a median lobe; upper three rays of pectoral fin each with two free filamentous tips, upper branch of fourth ray with short, free tip. |
|
Similar Species |
The freckled colour pattern with spotted fins is diagnostic among species of Bathygobius (most have dark bars or blotches on the side). The species also differs from al known Bathygobius species in having a mainly scaleless median predorsal with only two or three scales (vs, usually 6–32 scales). B. mero is also the only Bathygobius species having a commensal relationship with sponges. |
|
Etymology |
The species is named mero with reference to the MERO Foundation (Indonesian Marine Education and Research Organisation, Tulamben, Bali) for their generous sponsorship of this study. |
|
Species Citation |
Bathygobius mero Allen, Erdmann & Ichida 2024, Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation 41: 48, Figs. 1-7. Type locality: Seraya, eastern Bali, Indonesia, -8.2939°, 115.6109°, depth 18 metres. |
|
Author |
Bray, D.J. 2025 |
|
Resources |
Sponge Frillgoby, Bathygobius mero Allen, Erdmann & Ichida 2024
References
Allen, G.R., Erdmann, M.V. & Ichida, N.K. 2024. A new sponge-dwelling goby (Gobiidae: Bathygobius) from Indonesia, Philippines, and Australia. Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation 41: 46-53. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14003728
