Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Gobiiformes (Gobies) >
Gobiidae (Gobies) > Gobiinae
Etymology: Bathygobius: Greek, bathys = deep + Latin, gobius = gudgeon (Ref. 45335); mero: Named after the MERO Foundation (Indonesian Marine Education and Research Organisation, Tulamben, Bali) for their generous sponsorship of this study; noun in apposition.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range 9 - 30 m (Ref. 132436), usually ? - 15 m (Ref. 132436). Subtropical
Western Pacific: Indonesia, Australia and the Philippines.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 3.6 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 132436); 3.5 cm SL (female)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 8; Vertebrae: 27. This species is distinguished by the following characters: D VI+I,9; A I,8; pectoral-fin rays 19–21 (usually 20); lateral scales 33 or 34; transverse scales backwards 11 or 12; median predorsal scales 2 or 3; absence of skin flaps on pores or anterior nasal tube; upper three rays of pectoral fin each with two free filamentous tips, upper branch of fourth ray with short, free tip; mental frenum possess a straight margin and short lateral lobes; cheek and operculum scales absent; pectoral-fin base, abdomen, and prepelvic region with embedded cycloid scales; cheek with a slight fold; pelvic interspinal membrane without a median lobe; tongue tip with a median notch. Colouration: when alive, overall pale greyish with a dense covering of reddish-brown freckles, with a brown spot about one-third of pupil size at uppermost part of gill opening, reddish-brown spotting on fins (Ref. 132436).
Cross section: compressed.
This species has a commensal association with the large barrel sponge (Xestospongia testudinaria), unlike other members of the genus, which are typically free-living bottom dwellers. The type specimens were found living on a single sponge in 18 m depth. Numerous other individuals were also observed at this location, and all were associated with barrel sponges, with up to about 20 individuals on a single sponge, at depths ranging from 9-30 m. The goby inhabits the outer surface of the sponge and not the hollow central cavity, and occupies the deep, convoluted ravines between the longitudinal ridges and was not seen in the shallower ravines of the sponge. It also inhabits deeper water, but usually below about 15 m compared with most Bathygobius, which are mainly confined to shallow water less than 10 m deep (Ref. 132436).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Allen, G.R., M.V. Erdmann and N.K. Ichida, 2024. A new sponge-dwelling goby (Gobiidae: Bathygobius) from Indonesia, Philippines, and Australia. J. Ocean Sci. Found. 41:46-53. (Ref. 132436)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.2 ±0.5 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
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