Reef Stories
Gobies
Hugely diverse
Gobies
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Wrasse
Gobies are the largest fish family, with some 2000 species globally in c. 212 genera. There are 371 species in SE Asia alone. They are commensal with corals, sea whips, bryozoans, ascidians, sponges; occupy virtually all niches that coral reefs have to offer; live in burrows with blind shrimps; graze on mud slopes; or build huge colonies in areas of coral rubble. They live either singly or move through and between reefs, like the iconic crab gobies. They are often "good parents", clearing an area for laying eggs and then guarding them until they hatch.
Their tremendous diversity is entirely dependant on intact reefs, and the surrounding environments. Trawling, cyanide fishing for the aquarium trade, and dynamite fishing are a serious threat to the behavioural and colour spectacle that gobies that enrich our lives with.
Following Allen & Erdmann (2012), the diversity of gobies is presented in four groups here.
Grundeln
https://reef.image-stories.com/exhibition/exhibition-story/
https://reef.image-stories.com/exhibition/exhibition-story/?lang=de
https://reef.image-stories.com/stories/project/hiding
https://reef.image-stories.com/stories/project/flashers
https://reef.image-stories.com/stories/project/hitchhikers
https://reef.image-stories.com/stories/project/feather-star-party
https://reef.image-stories.com/stories/project/new-species
https://reef.image-stories.com/blog/post/korallenriffe-aussterben
https://reef.image-stories.com/blog/post/coral-reefs-dying
https://reef.image-stories.com/blog/post/mangroven
https://reef.image-stories.com/blog/post/mangroves
https://reef.image-stories.com/blog/post/plastik-im-meer
https://reef.image-stories.com/blog/post/ocean-plastic
https://reef.image-stories.com/blog/post/sonnenschutz--riffe
https://reef.image-stories.com/blog/post/sun-screen--reefs
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Note: this seach is a little slow the first time run, but then is fast. It is private and not tracked!
Partner Gobies
These gobies live together with various snapping shrimps in burrows in mud or rubble. The gobies can see very well but not burrow, and the shrimps are great burrowers, but are blind, so it is a great partnership. When the shrimps leave the burrow to push excavated rubble far out from the burrow, you'll often see the goby moving out along side the shrimp to protect it from predators (pers. obs.).
Shrimp gobies are however sitting ducks for some predators. Flamboyant Cuttlefish are a serious threat to large colonies of mixed species shrimp gobies. Moving so slowly that they are undetected, they can clean out an entire area of gobies and shrimp in just a few days.
There are still many undescribed species, some of which are even common in some areas. Some species are very variable in colour and patterning, e.g. Cryptocentrus fasciatus.
Commensal Gobies
These generally small gobies can be found between the folds of plated bryozoan colonies; moving in pairs between the coral branches hunting for food; hiding on a sea whip; sitting on a sponge, blending in to the background, and many other habitats. Often one species is found only in association with a single type of host, or only in a very specific habitat. When the hosts disappear, so do they.
Microgobies
These small gobies (amongst the smallest vertebrates) can be seen in small groups hovering above Acropora plates, and disappearing between the sharp branches at the first sign of danger; sitting on a Halimeda "leaf" in a hollow, streaking up occasionally to catch a copepod; living upside down on the roofs of overhangs; living in big colonies amongst coral rubble; and many other habitats. Studies have shown that their lifespan can be very short, sometimes only a matter of weeks.
For a photographer they are amazingly colourful fish, providing a wealth of opportunities for creative photography.
Sand Gobies
These gobies are somewhat larger, usually over 6cm long. They often swim in pairs, have camouflage colours, and feed along the edges of reefs, over mud and sand slopes, amongst mangroves and in estuaries. They can often be observed taking mouthfuls of sand or mud and after filtering out what is edible, expelling the rest through their gill covers. Some, like Signal Gobies (Signigobius biocellatus) share a burrow and stay within a sheltered fine sandy area within a reef.
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Partner Gobies
Partner Gobies
These gobies live together with various snapping shrimps in burrows in mud or rubble. The gobies can see very well but not burrow, and the shrimps are great burrowers, but are blind, so it is a great partnership. When the shrimps leave the burrow to push excavated rubble far out from the burrow, you'll often see the goby moving out along side the shrimp to protect it from predators (pers. obs.).
Shrimp gobies are however sitting ducks for some predators. Flamboyant Cuttlefish are a serious threat to large colonies of mixed species shrimp gobies. Moving so slowly that they are undetected, they can clean out an entire area of gobies and shrimp in just a few days.
There are still many undescribed species, some of which are even common in some areas. Some species are very variable in colour and patterning, e.g. Cryptocentrus fasciatus.
Commensal Gobies
Commensal Gobies
These generally small gobies can be found between the folds of plated bryozoan colonies; moving in pairs between the coral branches hunting for food; hiding on a sea whip; sitting on a sponge, blending in to the background, and many other habitats. Often one species is found only in association with a single type of host, or only in a very specific habitat. When the hosts disappear, so do they.
Microgobies
Microgobies
These small gobies (amongst the smallest vertebrates) can be seen in small groups hovering above Acropora plates, and disappearing between the sharp branches at the first sign of danger; sitting on a Halimeda "leaf" in a hollow, streaking up occasionally to catch a copepod; living upside down on the roofs of overhangs; living in big colonies amongst coral rubble; and many other habitats. Studies have shown that their lifespan can be very short, sometimes only a matter of weeks.
For a photographer they are amazingly colourful fish, providing a wealth of opportunities for creative photography.
Sand Gobies
Sand Gobies
These gobies are somewhat larger, usually over 6cm long. They often swim in pairs, have camouflage colours, and feed along the edges of reefs, over mud and sand slopes, amongst mangroves and in estuaries. They can often be observed taking mouthfuls of sand or mud and after filtering out what is edible, expelling the rest through their gill covers. Some, like Signal Gobies (Signigobius biocellatus) share a burrow and stay within a sheltered fine sandy area within a reef.
