
Fig 1

Fig 2

Fig 3
|
Order : Perciformes
Family : ELEOTRIDAE
Species : Butis humeralis
Maximum Length : 14.2 cm
Butis humeralis
(Flathead Gudgeon) inhabits estuarine and mangrove habitats.
The example
shown here was photographed in shallow, calm water at the edge of a large
area of mangrove on the island of Semakau, south of Singapore; the distinctive banded lips and black flecks on the flanks and side of the
head can clearly be seen.
Fishbase describe this species as amphidromous, which refers to
species that may migrate between freshwater and marine habitats (in both
directions), but not for the purpose of breeding.
This species is recorded from the Marina Basin, lying immediately south of
the city of Singapore; this was once an expanse of shallow coastal habitat,
but was converted to a freshwater reservoir in 2008 by the construction of a
barrage. Tan et al (2010) located Butis humeralis in the area prior
to its conversion; they categorised it as a species that "may survive (in
freshwater) but not breed if access to the marine environment is
restricted".
Butis humeralis occurs in the Indo-west Pacific, ranging at least from the
eastern coast of India to the Philippines, eastern Indonesia and Papua New
Guinea.
Fig 1 : Example from
Singapore, at the edge of mangrove habitat on Pulau Semakau.
Fig 3 : Mangrove habitat at Pulau Semakau, Singapore.
References :
Larson, H.K. and Lim, K.P. 1997. A Guide to Gobies of Singapore. Singapore
Science Centre.
Tan Heok Hui, Martyn E. Y. Low and Kelvin Lim Kok
Peng. (2010). Fishes of the Marina Basin, Singapore, before the erection of
the Marina Barrage. The Raffles Bulletin of \Zoology, 58(1), 137-144.
Links :
Fishbase
- Butis humeralis
|