Family : Gobiidae (Gobies) , subfamily: Gobiinae
Order : Perciformes  (perch-likes)
Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Fishbase Name : Pearl goby
Fish Name : Istigobius spence
Max size : 7.9 cm SL (male/unsexed; Ref. 1602)
Environment : reef-associated ; depth range 0 - 12 m
Climate : tropical; 15°N - 40°S
Global Importance :
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)Distribution : Indo-Pacific: Mozambique, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea, Australia, and Micronesia; undoubtedly more widespread.
Diagnosis : Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-11; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 9-10; Vertebrae: 26-26. Pectoral fin rays entire. Predorsal cycloid scale 7-10, ctenoid on trunk. Few spots on nape; a dusky line running from eye dorsal to sensory pore path, ending at or before pectoral fin base; wavy brown lines on the snout. Pelvic and distal part of anal fins darker in males than in females. Appressed anal fin reaching within a distance of 1-2 scales of caudal fin in male, 2-4 scales in female; appressed 2nd dorsal slightly overlapping caudal in male. Some males exhibit 3-4 vertical bars on abdomen and 2-3 horizontal bars in 1st dorsal fin.
Biology : Occurs in turbid coastal areas near river mouths at less than 1 m to at least 12 m, Ref. 48637
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : harmless
Coordinator :
Main Ref : Murdy, E.O. and D.F. Hoese. 1985. (Ref. 420)

India country information
Common Names : [ No common name ]
Status : native
Salinity : marine
Uses : no uses