Amblygobius semicinctus (Bennett, 1833)
Halfbarred goby
Amblygobius semicinctus
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobiinae
Max. size:  11 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; brackish; marine; depth range 1 - 20 m
Distribution:  Indian Ocean.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 6-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-15; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 14-15. Characterized by greenish brown body color with complex pattern consisting of longitudinal rows of small white spots; side of body with five narrow brown bars; presence of dark brown band from snout, through eye, to upper back; cheek with white spots and lines; dark-edged red spots dorsally on head; large brown spot above gill opening; basal part of upper caudal fin with large red-brown to blackish spot; 1-2 small black spot on outer part of caudal fin; prolonged third and fourth dorsal spines as short filaments, first dorsal fin taller than second; rounded caudal fin; longitudinal scale series 60-67; ctenoid scales; cycloid scales on nape, abdomen, and breast; predorsal scales 22-25, extending to interorbital space; scales dorsally on opercle, absent on cheek; depth of body 3.5-4.6 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Inhabits protected, silty lagoons and estuaries (Ref. 48637). Occurs in pairs, over its burrow beneath rock or rubble; usually hovers a short distance above the bottom. Monogamous (Ref. 52884). Gut contents of a 6.5 cm SL specimen contains mainly fine, unbranched, filamentous algae and harpacticoid copepods, also polychaetes, tanaids, decapod shrimps, amphipods, and nematodes (may have been parasitic).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 25 June 2018 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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