Amblyeleotris fontanesii (Bleeker, 1853)
Giant prawn-goby
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobiinae
Max. size:  25 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; brackish; marine; depth range 5 - 30 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Sumatra to the Moluccas, north to the Philippines; Palau in Micronesia. Reported from Papua New Guinea (Ref. 6771) and south of Taiwan (Ref. 5193).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-15; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 16-17. Characterized by whitish body color; head and body with five brown bars; small orange spots on head; first dorsal fin with large dark blotch; pelvic fins fully united with well developed frenum; predorsal scales extending forward to less than orbit diameter from interorbital space; longitudinal scale series 110; greatest depth of body 5.8-6.3 in SL; pointed caudal fin, longer than head (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Inhabits silty inshore bottoms, deep coastal mud slopes and also occurs in estuaries in muddy channels (Ref. 48637). Also found in sand bottoms of lagoons and sheltered reefs in 5-30 m (Ref. 90102).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 26 August 2020 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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