ANIMAL SPECIES:Old Glory, Amblygobius rainfordi (Whitley, 1940)
The Old Glory has five blue-edged orange stripes on the body and five white spots along the bases of the dorsal fins. There is a black ocellus in the middle of the second dorsal fin, and another at the base of the caudal peduncle.
Alternative Name/s
The Old Glory has also been called Rainfords Goby, Old Glory Goby, Red-lined Goby and Red-striped Goby.Identification
The Old Glory has five blue-edged orange stripes on the body and five white spots along the bases of the dorsal fins. There is a black ocellus (glossary) in the middle of the second dorsal fin, and another at the base of the caudal peduncle.
Size range
This species grows to 6.5 cm in length.Distribution
It occurs in tropical marine waters of the Western Pacific, from the Philippines, south to Australia and east to Fiji.
In Australia the Old Glory is known from the north-western coast of Western Australia, and from the entire length of the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland.
Habitat
The Old Glory is usually found in sandy or muddy-bottomed habitats close to coastal reefs. It occurs at depths of 3m to 20m.
This species is usually seen hovering within 0.5 m of the bottom.
Behaviour and adaptations
Feeding and Diet
It feeds by taking a mouthful of sand and sifting it through its gill rakers, capturing small invertebrates and other organic debris.
Other behaviours and adaptations
Unlike other members of this genus, the Old Glory does not retreat into a burrow when disturbed, and is often seen in the open.
Classification
- Species:
- rainfordi
- Genus:
- Amblygobius
- Family:
- Gobiidae
- Class:
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum:
- Vertebrata
- Phylum:
- Chordata
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
References
- Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 220.
- Myers, R.F. 1999. Micronesian Reef Fishes. Coral Graphics. Pp. 222.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 415.
- Whitley, G.P. (1940). Illustrations of some Australian fishes. Australian Zoologist. 9(4): 397-428.
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