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Gobiiformes (Gobies) >
Gobiidae (Gobies) > Gobiinae
Etymology: Acentrogobius: Greek, a = without + Greek, kentron = sting + Latin gobius = gudgeon (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Forsskål.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; freshwater; brackish; reef-associated; amphidromous (Ref. 46888); depth range 0 - 15 m (Ref. 86942). Tropical; 35°N - 35°S, 20°E - 166°W
Indo-West Pacific: East Africa, south to Durban in South Africa (Ref. 2798), through Indonesia to Micronesia, north to China and the Ryukyu Islands (Ref. 559), south to northern Australia.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 18.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 2798)
Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 9. Diagnosis: Characterized by pale grey body colour with three large dark brown blotches on side; head and body with faint brown scribbling; elongate and filamentous second and third dorsal spines; rounded caudal fin, slightly shorter than head; longitudinal scale series 26-30; head without scales; ctenoid body scales except cycloid on breast, base of pectoral fin and anterior part of abdomen; midline of nape without scales or 1-2 scales just before origin of dorsal fin; depth of body 3.2-3.4 times in standard length (Ref. 2798, 90102).
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal; Cross section: oval.
Solitary (Ref. 90102). Found over silty (Ref. 58652) and muddy bottoms around inner reefs. Common in mangroves, entering estuaries and rivers (Ref. 4343). Toxin concentrated in the skin; contains 28.7 µg/g tetrodotoxin in the internal organs while the flesh holds 1.7 µg/g (Ref. 5719).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Randall, J.E., G.R. Allen and R.C. Steene, 1990. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii. 506 p. (Ref. 2334)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Poisonous to eat (Ref. 5719)
Human uses
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