Yellowfin Goby, Acanthogobius flavimanus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1845)

Scientific name: Acanthogobius flavimanus
Alternative name/s:
Japanese Goby, Oriental Goby
Acanthogobius flavimanus Click to enlarge image
A Yellowfin Goby caught in an estuarine area of Sydney, New South Wales, April 2008. Image: Shane Murray
© Shane Murray

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Acanthogobius
    Species
    flavimanus
    Family
    Gobiidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to about 25 cm in length.

Introduction

The Yellowfin Goby is a benthic species that is usually found on muddy seabeds in estuarine and inshore areas. It occurs naturally in Japan but has been introduced to Australia.

Identification

The Yellowfin Goby has a diagonal line sloping forward from the eye to the rear margin of the jaw. There are dark blotches on the sides of the body and a dark spot at the base of the caudal fin. There is a dark bar on the upper region of the pectoral fin base and dark spots forming rows on the dorsal fins.

Habitat

The Yellowfin Goby is a benthic species that is usually found on muddy seabeds in estuarine and inshore areas.

Distribution

It occurs naturally in Japan but has been introduced to Australia, where it is known from the northern coast of New South Wales to Botany Bay, Sydney and from Port Phillip Bay, Victoria.

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.

References

  1. Hoese, D.F. (1973). The introduction of the gobiid fishes Acanthogobius flavimanusand Tridentiger trigonocephalus into Australia. Koolewong 2 (3): 3–5.
  2. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. in Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  3. Hoese, D.F. & Larson, H.K. Family Gobiidae. in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.