Decorated Sandgoby, Istigobius decoratus (Herre, 1927)

Scientific name: Istigobius decoratus
Alternative name/s:
Decorated Sand-goby
  • Author(s)
    Mark McGrouther
  • Updated
    18/02/19
  • Read time
    2 minutes
Decorated Sand-Goby, Istigobius decoratus Click to enlarge image
A Decorated Sand-Goby at a depth of 10m, Rodda Reef, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, December 1999. Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Istigobius
    Species
    decoratus
    Family
    Gobiidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 12 cm in length.

Introduction

The Decorated Sandgoby is pale or sandy-coloured with a series of spots and dashes along the sides of the body. The species lives in marine waters, usually on sand, in depths of 1 m to 20 m.

Identification

The Decorated Sandgoby is pale or sandy-coloured with a series of spots and dashes along the sides of the body.

Habitat

The species lives in marine waters, usually on sand, in depths of 1 m to 20 m.

Distribution

The species has a widespread distribution throughout much of the Indo-West Pacific.

In Australia it is recorded from the central coast of Western Australia, around the north of the country and south to northern New South Wales.

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.

Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

References

  1. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
  2. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.