PORT PHILLIP BAY


Striped Sandgoby 

Acentrogobius pflaumii (Bleeker, 1853)

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Meristics.
Dorsal fin spines/rays: VI; I, 10
Anal fin spines/rays: I, 10
Caudal fin rays: (segmented) 17
Pectoral fin rays: 16-18
Ventral fin spines/rays: I, 5
Lateral line: -

Interpreting fin count meristics.
Spines are in Roman numerals and soft rays are in Arabic numerals. Spines and rays that are continuous in one fin are separated by a comma. Fin sections are separated by semicolons.

Detailed descriptions of fin count and other meristics are in:
Gomon. M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds) (2008) Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.

Order level detail.
A large and highly diverse group of modern bony fishes many of which have a generalized perch like body form. Most have pelvic fins with one spine and 5 rays and the maxillary bone is excluded from the gape of the mouth. Interrelationships of the group are poorly understood and continue to be studied. They inhabit almost all aquatic habitats from high-altitude strams to the deep sea, although most are marine.

Family level detail.
Very large family representing almost 10% percent of all fish species. More than 230 genera and 1500 species are recognised worldwide, and there are more than 90 genera and 330 described species known from Australian waters.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Chordata
Subphylum:
Craniata
Superclass:
Gnathostomata
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order:
Perciformes
Family:
Gobiidae
Genus:
Acentrogobius
Species:
pflaumii

General Description

Body slender, head compressed, oval in cross-section; interorbital width less than eye diameter; mouth terminal, reaching to below front part of eye; gill opening restricted to pectoral-fin base; tongue tip truncate to slightly emarginate; head scaled forward to above the gill cover. Overall greenish-brown above, pale below, with fine dark longitudinal stripes and 5 dark rectangular blotches along lower side and pale bluish spots above; dark mark below middle of gill cover and a long thin mark on lower surface of head. To 12 cm.

Biology

This species is native to waters in Japan, Korea and China. It was accidentally introduced to Australia and New Zealand when juveniles or larvae were transported in ballast water in ships and the water was released in ports of call. Ships heading to Australia must now release their ballast water far offshore. Following its initial discovery in Port Melbourne, Port Phillip Bay in 1997, the species was subsequently found to be widespread in the highly disturbed silty areas, including Port Melbourne and Corio Bay. Although still present, populations appear to fluctuate.

Habitat

Sandy and silty areas in sheltered bays, harbours and estuaries, to depth of 15 m.

Soft substrates

Distribution guide

Japan, Korea and China. In Australia, recorded from New South Wales and Port Phillip (Victoria).

Species Group

Fishes › Gobies

Depth

Shallow (1-30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

12 cm

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Introduced to Australia

Identify

Conservation Status

  • DSE Advisory List : Not listed
  • EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
  • IUCN Red List : Not listed

Author

article author Bray, D.J.

Di Bray is a Senior Collection Manager of ichthyology at Museum Victoria.

Author

article author Gomon, M.F.

Dr. Martin Gomon is a Senior Curator of ichthyology at Museum Victoria.

citation

Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. & Gomon, M.F., 2011, Striped Sandgoby, Acentrogobius pflaumii, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 20 Apr 2024, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/6346

Text: creative commons cc by licence