Valenciennea seguttata (Sixspot goby)

Identification

White to grey, torpedo-shaped body with 6 (sometimes more) blue spots on the cheek. Conspicuous black spot on the first dorsal fin. They usually live in pairs.

Status

Unassessed by the IUCN Red list, but widespread throughout its range.

Habitat

Indi-Pacific; from the Red Sea, Persian Gulf and East Africa to Samoa; Ryukyu Islands, south to Queensland, Australia. They can be found in or near their burrow in silty or sandy bottoms or under rocks on shoreline reefs, lagoons or atolls. They live in a depth range of 1-25 meters (usually shallow).

Reproduction

Sixspot gobies are monogamous, like their related species.

Size

Up to 12cm.

Prey / Predation

They feed on small crustaceans and fish, as well as fish eggs which they sift out from the sand.

Special features

Gobies that live on burrows on open sand will quickly swim back into their burrow upon approach.