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Signal Goby
Fusigobius signipinnis Hoese & Obika, 1988
A Signal Goby at a depth of 12m, Tijou Reef, far northern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, December 1999. View larger image.
The Signal Goby is translucent with tiny dark orange-brown spots on the body. The first part of the dorsal fin has black tips and a large orange blotch with white spots. The rest of the dorsal fin, the anal fin and the caudal fin are transparent.
This species grows to about 6cm in length.
The Signal Goby is usually seen on sand adjacent to coral reefs. It hides in the coral when approached.
This fish can be found at depths between 5m and 25m.
The Signal Goby is often observed raising and lowering its dorsal fin, hence the common name.
It occurs in tropical marine waters of the Western Pacific, from the Ryukyu Islands, Japan, south to Australia and east to Tonga.
In Australia the Signal Goby is known from the north-western coast of Western Australia and from the northern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland.
View a map of the collecting localities of specimens in the Australian Museum Fish Collection.
Further reading
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 415.
Copyright © Australian Museum, 2006
Page researched and compiled by
K. Parkinson & M. McGrouther, September 2003.
