Order : Perciformes
Family : GOBIIDAE
Species : Acentrogobius viridipunctatus
Maximum Length : 16.5 cm

Acentrogobius viridipunctatus (Papillose Goby) inhabits coastlines, brackish estuaries, mangrove and freshwater habitats near coastal areas. It ranges from East Africa to the western Pacific Ocean, and from northern Australia to Japan.

Its scientific name of 'viridipunctatus' means 'green spotted'; the presence of such spots on the flanks and on the side of the head is a useful identifying feature in the field.

To confidently distinguish this species from its close relatives which may occur in the same habitat, such as Acentrogobius janthinopterus ('Green Spotted Goby'), close examination needs to be made of the orientation of rows of papillae (small, rounded protuberances) on the cheek. Such examinations can really only be undertaken by fish experts.

Figs 1 and 2 : Example from mangrove habitat at Pulau Semakau, an island off the south of Singapore. (In these images the green spots appear yellowish due to flash photography).

Fig 3 : Mangrove at Pulau Semakau, with a huge oil refinery in the distance.


References :

Larson, H.K. and Lim, K.P. 1997. A Guide to Gobies of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre.


Links :

Fishbase - Acentrogobius viridipunctatus