Animal Species:Decorated Sandgoby, Istigobius decoratus (Herre, 1927)

The Decorated Sandgoby is pale or sandy-coloured with a series of spots and dashes along the sides of the body. The species lives in marine waters, usually on sand, in depths of 1 m to 20 m.

A Decorated Sandgoby at Rodda Reef

A Decorated Sandgoby at Rodda Reef
Erik Schlögl © Erik Schlögl

Alternative Name/s

Decorated Sand-goby

Identification

The Decorated Sandgoby is pale or sandy-coloured with a series of spots and dashes along the sides of the body.

Size range

The species grows to 12 cm in length.

Distribution

The species has a widespread distribution throughout much of the Indo-West Pacific.

In Australia it is recorded from the central coast of Western Australia, around the north of the country and south to northern New South Wales.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Istigobius decoratus

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Decorated Sandgoby specimens in the Australian Museum.

What does this mean?

Habitat

The species lives in marine waters, usually on sand, in depths of 1 m to 20 m.

Classification

Species:
decoratus
Genus:
Istigobius
Family:
Gobiidae
Order:
Perciformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
  2. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags fish, ichthyology, Istigobius decoratus, sandy bottom, Gobiidae, Decorated Sandgoby, white, brown, black, long and skinny, 10 cm - 30 cm, blotches/mottled, soft substrate, marine, adult,