Macrodontogobius wilburi Herre, 1936
Largetooth goby
photo by Winterbottom, R.

Family:  Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobiinae
Max. size:  6.5 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 20 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific: Seychelles eastward into Oceania, including Micronesia, Fanning, and Phoenix islands.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-11; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 9-10; Vertebrae: 26-26. Ground color of dorsal part of body greenish brown, ventral whitish yellow; a black spot at base of caudal fin; 7 dark brown blotches longitudinally arranged in mid-lateral area; black spots on cheeks and operculae, one ventral to the eye; pectoral fins hyaline; white pelvic fins. Pigment intensity variable among localities. 7 or less predorsal scales. Large, ctenoid scales except for cycloid scales in isthmus (Ref. 403); pelvic fins united with well-developed frenum; rounded caudal fin, slightly longer than head; longitudinal scale series 27-31; fully scaled cheek and opercle; depth of body 4.6-6.3 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Inhabits coastal bays, lagoons and estuaries on fine sand along reef margins to about 20 meters depth (Ref. 48637). Solitary (Ref. 90102). Specimens collected from shallow waters to 7 m, near coral reefs. In southern Japan, the species inhabits sandy bay bottoms.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 13 March 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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