Amblygobius phalaena (Valenciennes, 1837)
Whitebarred goby
Banded goby,  Bia,  Bagtis,  Bakuli,  Bala,  Borod,  Bunak,  Palo,  Rumbeb,  Tambo-tambo,  Tambud butobuto
photo by Eric Keung@114°E Hong Kong Reef Fish Survey

Family:  Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobiinae
Max. size:  15 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range - 52 m
Distribution:  Pacific Ocean: Philippines to the Society Islands, north to Ryukyu Islands, south to southern Australia (including Lord Howe Island) and Rapa Island; throughout Micronesia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-15; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 14-14. Characterized by overall greenish brown body color with five dark brown to blackish bars; presence of pale edged dark stripe through eye and another across cheek; head with white streaks; small white spots in 3-4 horizontal rows on body; first dorsal fin with black spot and another on upper caudal fin base; prolonged third and fourth dorsal spines as short filaments, first dorsal spine longer than second; rounded caudal fin; longitudinal scale series 50-55; ctenoid scales; cycloid scales on nape, abdomen, and breast; predorsal scales extending to interorbital space; scales dorsally on opercle, absent on cheek; depth of body 3.4-4.6 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Solitary or in pairs (Ref. 90102). Adults inhabit coastal reefs and lagoons on sand and rubble margins of algal reefs and sometimes near seagrass beds (Ref. 48637). Feed by sifting mouthfuls of sand and expelling it through the gills, to capture small invertebrates, organic matter, and large quantities of algae. Monogamous (Ref. 52884). Spawning is synchronous with semilunar periods (Ref. 84980). Eggs are deposited in burrows which are tended by the male parent (Ref. 55919, 84980). Minimum depth reported from Ref. 27115. Also Ref. 58652.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 27 August 2020 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:  Known from Badian, Cebu (Ref. 58652), Lanuza Bay (Ref. 104756). Also Ref. 280, 1602, 48613.


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