View source for Gobiidae

{{Short description|Family of fishes}}
{{About|the fish family Gobiidae|other fish called goby|Goby}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| name                = Gobies
| image               = Gobius niger (Stefano Guerrieri) 1.jpg
| image_caption       = Black goby (''[[Gobius niger]]'')
| taxon               = Gobiidae
| authority           = [[Georges Cuvier|G. Cuvier]], 1816
| subdivision_ranks   = Subfamilies
| subdivision         =
See [[#Subfamilies|text]].
}}
'''Gobiidae''' or '''gobies''' is a [[family (biology)|family]] of [[bony fish]] in the [[order (biology)|order]] [[Gobiiformes]], one of the largest fish families comprising more than 2,000 [[species]] in more than 200 [[genus|genera]].<ref>{{cite book |title = The Biology of Gobies |editor = Patzner, R.A. |editor2 = Van Tassell, J.L. |editor3 = Kovačić, M. |editor4 = Kapoor, B.G. |year = 2011 |publisher = Science Publishers |location = Enfield, NH |page=685 |isbn=978-1-57808-436-4 }}</ref> Most of gobiid fish are relatively small, typically less than {{cvt|10|cm}} in length, and the family includes some of the smallest [[vertebrates]] in the world, such as ''[[Trimmatom nanus]]'' and ''[[Pandaka pygmaea]]'', ''Trimmatom nanus'' are under {{cvt|1|cm|in|frac=8}} long when fully grown, then ''Pandaka pygmaea'' standard length are {{cvt|9|mm}}, maximum known standard length are {{cvt|11|mm}}. Some large gobies can reach over {{cvt|30|cm|ft}} in length, but that is exceptional. Generally, they are [[benthic fish|benthic]] or bottom-dwellers. Although few are important as [[food fish]] for humans, they are of great significance as [[prey]] species for other commercially important fish such as [[cod]], [[haddock]], [[barramundi|sea bass]] and [[flatfish]]. Several gobiids are also of interest as [[aquarium fish]], such as the [[dartfish]] of the genus ''[[Ptereleotris]]''. [[Phylogenetic]] relationships of gobiids have been studied using molecular data.<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Agorreta, A. |author2=San Mauro, D. |author3=Schliewen, U. |author4=Van Tassell, J.L. |author5=Kovačić, M. |author6=Zardoya, R. |author7=Rüber, L. |year=2013|title=Molecular phylogenetics of Gobioidei and phylogenetic placement of European gobies|journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution |volume=69 |issue=3 |pages=619–633 |doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2013.07.017 |pmid=23911892|bibcode=2013MolPE..69..619A |hdl=10261/123985 |hdl-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|author1=Agorreta, A. |author2=Rüber, L. |year=2012|title=A standardized reanalysis of molecular phylogenetic hypotheses of Gobioidei|journal=Systematics and Biodiversity |volume=10 |issue=3 |pages=375–390 |doi=10.1080/14772000.2012.699477|bibcode=2012SyBio..10..375A }}</ref>
==Description==
{{multiple image
| direction         = vertical
| width             = 220
| image1            = Racer goby from the Bug River 4.jpg
| alt1              =
| caption1          = [[Racer goby]] (''Babka gymnotrachelus''), a member of the formerly valid subfamily Benthophilinae
| image2            = Neogobiusfluviatilisandkessleri.JPG
| alt2              =
| caption2          = The monkey goby (''[[Neogobius fluviatilis]]'') and the bighead goby (''[[Ponticola kessleri]]''),  members of the formerly valid subfamily Benthophilinae
| image3            = Microgobius gulosus2.jpg
| alt3              =
| caption3          = Clown goby (''[[Microgobius gulosus]]''), a "true goby", formerly a member of the Gobiinae
| image4            = 046-011 Pomatoschistus microps (cropped).JPG
| alt4              =
| caption4          = [[Common goby]] (''Pomatoschistus microps''), a "true goby", formerly a member of the Gobiinae
| image5            = Ptereleotris evides 2557.jpg
| alt5              =
| caption5          = Blackfin dartfish (''[[Ptereleotris evides]]''), a species from the formerly valid family [[Ptereleotridae]]
}}
The most distinctive aspects of gobiid [[morphology (biology)|morphology]] are the fused [[pelvic fins]] that form a disc-shaped sucker. This sucker is functionally analogous to the [[dorsal fin]] sucker possessed by the [[remora]]s or the pelvic fin sucker of the [[lumpsucker]]s, but is anatomically distinct; these similarities are the product of [[convergent evolution]]. The species in this family can often be seen using the sucker to adhere to rocks and [[coral]]s, and in [[aquarium]]s they will stick to glass walls of the tank, as well.
==Distribution and habitat==
Gobiidae are spread all over the world in tropical and temperate near shore-marine, [[brackish]], and freshwater environments. Their range extends from the [[Old World]] coral reefs to the seas of the [[New World]], and includes the rivers and near-shore habitats of Europe and Asia.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Thacker|first=Christine E.|author2=Dawn M. Roje|title=Phylogeny of Gobiidae and identification of gobiid lineages|journal=Systematics and Biodiversity|year=2011|volume=9|issue=4|pages=329–347|doi=10.1080/14772000.2011.629011|bibcode=2011SyBio...9..329T }}</ref> Gobies are generally bottom-dwellers. Although many live in burrows, a few species (e.g. in the genus ''[[Glossogobius]]'') are true [[cavefish]].<ref name=Romero>{{cite book | editor=Romero, A.| year=2001 | title=The Biology of Hypogean Fishes | series=Developments in Environmental Biology of Fishes | pages=35–36 | isbn=978-1402000768}}</ref> On coral reefs, species of gobiids constitute 35% of the total number of fishes and 20% of the species diversity.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Winterbottom|title=Life span, growth and mortality in the western Pacific goby Trimma benjamini, and comparisons with T. nasa|journal=Environmental Biology of Fishes|year=2011|volume=91|pages=295–301|doi=10.1007/s10641-011-9782-6|first1=Richard|issue=3|bibcode=2011EnvBF..91..295W |display-authors=etal}}</ref>
==Subfamilies==
{{See also|List of Gobiidae genera}}
The family Gobiidae underwent a major revision in the 5th edition of ''[[Fishes of the World]]''. Before the revision the Gobiidae contained six subfamilies: [[Gobiinae]], [[Benthophilinae]], [[Amblyopinae]],  [[Gobionellinae]], [[Oxudercinae]], and [[Sicydiinae]]. The revision retained the first two subfamilies and removed the other four to a separate family, the [[Oxudercidae]]. In addition, species formerly placed in the families [[Kraemeriidae]], [[Microdesmidae]], [[Ptereleotridae]] and  [[Schindleriidae]] were added to the revised Gobiidae, although no subfamilies were described.<ref name = Nelson5>{{cite book |title=Fishes of the World |edition=5th |author1=J. S. Nelson |author2=T. C. Grande |author3=M. V. H. Wilson |year=2016 |pages=752 |publisher=Wiley |isbn=978-1-118-34233-6 |url=https://sites.google.com/site/fotw5th/ |access-date=2018-08-11 |archive-date=2019-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408194051/https://sites.google.com/site/fotw5th/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
The two formerly recognised subfamilies where the species have been retained in Gobiidae in the 5th Edition of ''Fishes of the World'':<ref name = Nelson5/>
===Benthophilinae===
{{Main|Benthophilinae}}
Members of Benthophilinae are endemic to the Ponto-Caspian region (including the [[Sea of Marmara|Marmara]], [[Black Sea|Black]], [[Sea of Azov|Azov]], [[Caspian Sea|Caspian]], and [[Aral Sea]]s).<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Simonović | first1 = P.D. | last2 = Nikolić | first2 = V.P. | last3 = Skóra | first3 = K.E. | year = 1996 | title = Vertebral number in Ponto-Caspian gobies: phylogenetic relevance | journal = J. Fish Biol. | volume = 49 | issue = 5| pages = 1027–1029 | doi=10.1111/j.1095-8649.1996.tb00098.x| bibcode = 1996JFBio..49.1027S }}</ref> The representatives of the subfamily have fused pelvic fins and elongated dorsal and anal fins.<ref>Miller P.J. (1986) Gobiidae. In: Whitehead P.J.P., Bauchot M.-L., Hureau J.-C., Nielsen J., Tortonese E. (eds.) Fishes of the North-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean, Vol. 3. UNESCO, Paris.</ref> They are distinguished from the closely related subfamily Gobiinae by the absence of a [[swimbladder]] in adults and location of the uppermost rays of the [[pectoral fin]]s within the [[fin]] membrane.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Pinchuk | first1 = V.I. | year = 1991 | title = K voprosu o grupirovkakh vidov v predelakh roda ''Neogobius'' (Perciformes) | journal = Voprosy Ikhtiologii | volume = 31 | pages = 380–393 | title-link = Neogobius }}</ref> Its members include [[Benthophilus|tadpole gobies]], [[Neogobius fluviatilis|monkey gobies]], and [[Ponticola kessleri|bighead gobies]].
===Gobiinae===
{{Main|Gobiinae}}
Members of the Gobiinae are known as [[true gobies]]. It is the most widespread and most diverse of the subfamilies formerly recognised under the Gobiidae, containing around 2000 species and 150 genera.
==Ecology and biology==
Gobiids are primarily fish of shallow marine habitats, including [[tide pool]]s, [[coral reef]]s, and [[seagrass meadow]]s; they are also very numerous in [[brackish water]] and [[estuarine]] habitats, including the lower reaches of rivers, [[mangrove swamp]]s, and [[salt marsh]]es. A few gobiid species (unknown exactly, but in the low hundreds) are also fully adapted to [[freshwater]] environments. These include the [[round goby]] (''Neogobius melanostomus''), Australian desert goby (''[[Chlamydogobius|Chlamydogobius eremius]]''), and the European freshwater goby ''[[Padogobius bonelli]]''. Most gobies feed on small invertebrates, although some of the larger species eat other fish, and a few eat [[plankton]]ic [[algae]].
==Reproduction==
Most species in the Gobiidae attach their eggs to a [[Substrate (biology)|substrate]], such as vegetation, coral, or a rock surface. They lay from five to a few thousand eggs, depending on the species. After fertilizing the eggs, the male guards the eggs from predators and keep them free from [[detritus]]. The male fans the eggs, thereby providing them with oxygen. The female maintains the burrow. The eggs hatch after a few days. The larvae are born transparent, and they develop coloration after spreading to find a suitable habitat. The larvae of many [[freshwater]] gobiid species are carried downstream to the [[Brackish water|brackish]] waters, or even to the sea. They return to fresh water weeks or months later.<ref name=EoF>{{cite book |editor1=Paxton, J.R. |editor2=Eschmeyer, W.N. |author= Hoese, Douglas F.|year=1998|title=Encyclopedia of Fishes|publisher= Academic Press|location=San Diego|pages= 218–222|isbn= 978-0-12-547665-2}}</ref>
Gobiids in warmer waters reach adulthood in a few months, while gobies in cooler environments reach adulthood in two years. The total [[Life expectancy|lifespan]] of gobiid varies from one to ten years, again with the species in warmer waters generally living longer.<ref name=EoF/>
==Behavior==
===Burrow construction===
Many species in the Gobiidae live in male-female pairs that construct and share burrows, similar to many other fish such as [[Oreochromis mossambicus|Mozambique tilapia]]. The burrows are used for shelters and [[spawning]] places. Gobiids use their mouths to dig into the sea bottom, removing dead coral-fragments, rubble, and [[Benthic fish|benthic]] [[algae]] in order to build their burrows.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|last=Reebs|first=Stephan|title=Can fishes build things?|url=http://www.howfishbehave.ca/pdf/can%20fish%20build%20things.pdf}}</ref> Gobiids maintain their burrows by fanning away sand inside the burrows. Furthermore, gobies use coral rubble to block burrow entrance. A single goby carry as many as nine pieces of coral rubble per minute. Gobiids also build a 6–13&nbsp;cm high [[mound]] over the entrance of their spawning burrow.<ref name=":0" /> The mound lets the water flow fast over the mound. The water flow created by the mound helps to provide oxygen to the eggs. While burrow building is a cooperative behavior done by both sexes, males usually put more effort in burrow maintenance than females. Females feed more instead, because the [[reproductive success]] is optimal when females put more energy in preparing for the reproduction.<ref name=":1">{{cite journal|last=Takegaki|first=Takeshi|author2=Akinobu Nakazono|title=Division of labor in the monogamous goby, Valenciennea longipinnis, in relation to burrowing behavior|journal=Ichthyological Research|date=June 1999|volume=46|issue=2|pages=125–129|doi=10.1007/BF02675430|bibcode=1999IchtR..46..125T }}</ref> After spawning eggs, the roles of male and female changes. Females primarily maintain the burrow, and males mainly care for the eggs by fanning them, thereby providing oxygen. When females leave the burrow, however, the mounds lose their heights. The males then give up on the eggs and eat them, preparing for future mating opportunities. Gobiid burrows vary in size depending on the size of the species.<ref name=":1" />
===Kleptogamy===
Kleptogamy refers to a "sneaking behavior" during [[reproduction]] where an unpaired male fertilises the eggs of a paired female and the paired male cares for the eggs. Females prefer male gobies with large bodies. Since not all males have large bodies, the smaller ones may cheat instead of expending energy to find mates.<ref name=":2">{{cite web|last=Reebs|first=Stephan|title=The sex lives of fishes|url=http://www.howfishbehave.ca/pdf/The%20sex%20lives%20of%20fishes.pdf}}</ref> The sneakers wait near the spawning ground of paired fish. The sneakers then release their [[sperm]] on the spawning ground as soon as the paired female releases her [[Egg cell|eggs]].<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Svensson|author2=Kvarnemo|title=Parasitic spawning in sand gobies: an experimental assessment of nest-opening size, sneaker male cues, paternity, and filial cannibalism|journal=Behavioral Ecology|year=2007|volume=18|pages=410–419|doi=10.1093/beheco/arl098|first1=O.|issue=2|doi-access=free}}</ref>  Though sneakers’ sperm fertilizes some eggs, the paired male cannot distinguish the eggs fertilized by the sneakers from those fertilized by his own sperm. Therefore, the paired male gives [[parental care]] equally to all the eggs.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Svensson|author2=Magnhagen, C. |author3=Forsgren, E. |author4=Kvarnemo, C. |title=Parental behaviour in relation to the occurrence of sneaking in the common goby|journal=Animal Behaviour|volume=56|pages=175–179|doi=10.1006/anbe.1998.0769|pmid=9710475|year=1998|first1=O|s2cid=24806138 |issue=1}}</ref>
Kleptogamy is a good strategy in many ways. First, the sneakers do not need their own territories, indicating that they do not need to spend energy in protecting territories, as most other males do. Most male gobies need their own territories, since females do not choose to mate with a male that does not own his own territory.<ref name=":2" /> Secondly, the sneakers do not provide parental care to their eggs. The paired males provide parental care instead of the sneakers. Therefore, the sneakers can save energy, and they can put more effort into finding new targets for cheating.<ref name=":2" />
The cost of kleptogamy is that the sneakers can receive aggressive attacks from the paired males that are usually much larger and stronger than the sneakers. For small sneakers, the attacks by the paired males can be detrimental and often lead to death.<ref name=":2" />
The sneakers are also referred to as pseudo-females, since they are small and hardly distinguishable from females. This small body size makes cheating easier. Most of the time the paired males mistake the sneakers for females and thus do not chase the sneakers away. The paired males are called "[[Bourgeoisie|bourgeois]]" males, because they are larger, stronger, and most importantly, paired.<ref name=":2" />
[[File:Gobius (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 15 July 1865).jpg|alt=An 1865 watercolor painting of a Brazilian goby by Jacques Burkhardt.|thumb|A 1865 watercolor painting of a Brazilian goby by Jacques Burkhardt]]
===Sex change===
A few species of gobiid, such as [[blackeye goby]] and ''[[Lythrypnus dalli]]'', can change their sexes. Sex change is possible in these gobies, since the [[external genitalia]] for males and females do not differ much.<ref name=":2" /> Sex changes can take from days to weeks. Most sex changes in gobies are from female to male ([[protogyny]]) rather than male to female ([[protandry]]). Female-to-male changes are observed not only in gobiids but also in [[wrasses]], [[damselfish]]es, and sea [[Bass (fish)|basses]].<ref name=":2" /> Female-to-male change usually occurs because the resident male of the group is dead. If no male is in the group, [[reproduction]] will be impossible. Therefore, the dominant female turns into male, allowing mating to happen.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Lorenzi|first=V.|author2=Earley, R.L. |author3=Grober, M.S. |title=Preventing behavioural interactions with a male facilitates sex change in female bluebanded gobies, Lythrypnus dalli|journal=Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology|year=2006|volume=59|pages=715–722|doi=10.1007/s00265-005-0101-0|issue=6}}</ref> Male-to-female change occurs when the females have preference for specific features in males. For example, females prefer large males, and a few large males mate with multiple females, whereas small males lose their chance to mate. Small males either choose to become sneakers (kleptogamy) or choose to transform into females because all females technically have high mating opportunities. By turning into females, males can ensure that they produce many [[offspring]].<ref name=":2" /><ref name="mund">{{cite journal|last=Munday|first=P.L.|author2=Caley, M.J. |author3=Jones, G.P. |title=Bi-directional sex change in a coral-dwelling goby|journal=Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology|year=1998|volume=43|pages=371–377|doi=10.1007/s002650050504|issue=6}}</ref>
Some gobies have extraordinarily developed sex change ability. ''[[Gobiodon histrio]]'' from the [[Great Barrier Reef]] exhibits bidirectional sex changes. ''G. histrio'' is one of the very few species that can change sex in both ways. When two ''G. historio'' females, which used to be males, are on the same coral reef, one of them transforms back into a male goby.<ref name="mund"/>
===Sex determination===
Sex determination in coral goby ''Gobiodon erythrospilus'' does not occur until the juveniles meet potential mates.<ref name=":2" /> Confronting a potential mate can be difficult for ''Gobiodon erythrospilus'' juveniles, since most coral resources, crucial for attracting mates, are occupied by pre-existing paired gobies. Juveniles can only meet potential mates when one member of the pre-existing pairs dies. Juveniles’ sexes are determined according to the sexes of their potential mates. When a juvenile meets a female, it becomes a male, and [[vice versa]]. This type of sex determination is referred to as socially influenced sex determination.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Hobbs|first=J.-P. A.|author2=Munday, P.L. |author3=Jones, G.P. |title=Social induction of maturation and sex determination in a coral reef fish|journal=Proceedings of the Royal Society of London|year=2004|volume=B 271|pages=2109–2114|doi=10.1098/rspb.2004.2845|pmid=15475329|issue=1553|pmc=1691848}}</ref>
===Navigation===
Some gobiids remember [[landmarks]] that are within short distances, and use them to find their ways. Small frillfin gobies (''[[Bathygobius soporator]]'') live in [[intertidal zone]]s. They swim through the pools during [[high tide]]s and memorize how each pool connects to the others. Then, during [[low tide]]s, they can exhibit accurate jumping behaviors, as they have memorized the paths.<ref>{{cite web|last=Reebs|first=Stephan|title=How fishes find their ways around|url=http://www.howfishbehave.ca/pdf/how%20fishes%20find%20their%20way%20around.pdf}}</ref> In a new environment, these fish do not show jumping behaviors or jump into wrong pools. Nevertheless, after one night, they show the same accurate jumping behaviors.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Aronson|first=L.R.|title=Further studies on orientation and jumping behaviour in the Gobiid fish, Bathygobius soporator|journal=Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences|year=1971|volume=188|issue=1|pages=378–392|bibcode=1971NYASA.188..378A|doi=10.1111/j.1749-6632.1971.tb13110.x|pmid=5288865}}</ref>
===Habitat choice===
A study was done to understand how gobiids react to changing habitat. The fish were given two choices: a safe habitat with less food and a dangerous habitat with more food. Results from both the full and hungry fish revealed that gobiids, when confronted with the trade-off between [[foraging]] and avoiding [[predation]], made choices that would better their foraging.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Magnhagen|first=C.|title=Changes in foraging as a response to predation risk in two gobiid fish species, Pomatoschistus minutus and Gobius niger|journal=Marine Ecology Progress Series|year=1988|volume=49|pages=21–26|doi=10.3354/meps049021|bibcode=1988MEPS...49...21M|doi-access=free}}</ref>
[[File:Goby fish with shrimp.jpg|thumb|Some marine gobies live in symbiosis with shrimp.]]
===Symbiosis===
Species in the Gobiidae sometimes form [[symbiosis|symbiotic relationships]] with other species,<ref>{{cite book |author1=G. S. Helfman |author2=B. B. Colette |author3=D. E. Facey | year = 1997 | title = The Diversity of Fishes | chapter = Chapter 21: Fishes as social animals | publisher = Blackwell | isbn = 978-0-86542-256-8}}</ref> such as with burrowing [[shrimps]]. The shrimp maintains a burrow in the sand in which both the shrimp and the fish live. The shrimp has poor eyesight compared to the gobiid, but if it sees or feels the fish suddenly swim into the burrow, it will follow. The fish and shrimp keep in contact with each other, the shrimp using its antennae, and the fish flicking the shrimp with its tail when alarmed. These gobiids are thus sometimes known as "[[Watchman goby|watchmen gobies]]" or "prawn gobies". Each party gains from this relationship: the shrimp gets a warning of approaching danger, and the fish gets a safe home and a place to lay its [[Egg cell|eggs]]. Only the [[alpha male]] and female reproduce, other fish in the colony eat sparingly to resist being eaten by the alpha male or female. This way, only the largest and fittest are able to reproduce.{{Citation needed|date=April 2011}}
Another example of [[symbiosis]] is demonstrated by the neon gobies (''[[Elacatinus]]'' spp.). These gobiids, known as "cleaner gobies", remove [[parasite]]s from the skin, fins, mouth, and gills of a wide variety of large fish. The most remarkable aspect of this symbiosis is many of the fish that visit the cleaner gobies' [[cleaning station]]s would otherwise treat such small fish as food (for example, [[grouper]]s and [[Lutjanidae|snapper]]). Again, this is a relationship where both parties gain: the gobies get a continual supply of food as bigger fish visit their cleaning stations, and the bigger fish leave the cleaning stations healthier than they were when they arrived.
Another form of [[symbiosis]] exists between gobiids and the mushroom coral ''Heliofungia actiniformis'' ([[Fungiidae]]), in which representatives of the genus ''Eviota'' roam among the tentacles possibly hiding from predators.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Bos, Arthur R  |year=2012 |title=Fishes (Gobiidae and Labridae) associated with the mushroom coral ''Heliofungia actiniformis'' (Scleractinia: Fungiidae) in the Philippines |journal=Coral Reefs |volume=31 |issue= 1|page=133 |doi=10.1007/s00338-011-0834-3 |bibcode=2012CorRe..31..133B|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Bos AR, Hoeksema BW |year=2015 |title= Cryptobenthic fishes and co-inhabiting shrimps associated with the mushroom coral Heliofungia actiniformis (Fungiidae) in the Davao Gulf, Philippines |journal= Environmental Biology of Fishes |volume=98 |issue=6 |pages=1479–1489 |doi=10.1007/s10641-014-0374-0 |bibcode=2015EnvBF..98.1479B }}</ref>
==Commercial importance==
[[File:Gobies for sale.jpg|right|thumb|Dried gobies for sale on the market in [[Odesa]], Ukraine]]
Gobiids have commercial importance in [[Russia]] and [[Ukraine]]. They are [[fishing|fished]] in the [[Sea of Azov]], northwestern [[Black Sea]] and [[Caspian Sea]]. Most important species are [[round goby]], [[monkey goby]], [[toad goby]], and [[grass goby]]. The [[grass goby]] is also a commercial fish in [[Italy]].
===In the aquarium===
Several species of gobiids are kept in aquaria.<ref>{{cite book |first = Frank | last = Schäfer | year = 2005 | title = Brackish-Water Fishes | publisher = Aqualog | isbn = 978-3936027822}}</ref> Most captive gobies are marine. Perhaps the most popular is the small but colorful [[neon goby]]. Most gobies stay toward the lower portion of the aquarium, hiding in the rockwork, but some species (most notably the shrimp gobies) prefer to dig themselves little burrows. Aquarists typically provide them with a fine-grained substrate to prevent damage to their delicate undersides.
Commonly kept saltwater species include [[Amblyeleotris|Randall's shrimp goby]] and the [[watchman goby]].
==See also==
* [[Eleotridae|Sleeper gobies]] are a closely related family (Eleotridae) that lack the fused pelvic fin sucker typical of most gobies, but are otherwise very similar in size, shape, and ecology.
* [[Blenny|Blennies]] are a group of shallow-water marine fish often confused with gobies.
* [[Dragonet]]s are superficially similar to gobies and sometimes confused with them.
* ''[[Pholidichthys leucotaenia]]'' is commonly called the engineer goby or convict goby, but is not a goby.
==References==
{{Reflist|40em}}
==External links==
{{Commons category|Gobiidae}}
*[http://www.gobiidae.com/ Gobioid Research Institute]
*[http://www.themudskipper.org/ Themudskipper.org: a website on mudskippers]
*[http://www.wetwebmedia.com/clnrfaqs.htm Article on cleaner gobies in aquaria]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120603075849/http://homepage.mac.com/nmonks/Projects/FAQ/6b.html Brackish water aquarium FAQ entry on gobies]
*{{Cite NIE|wstitle=Goby|year=1906 |short=x}}
*Smith, J.L.B. 1960. [http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018779 Fishes of the family Gobiidae in South Africa. Ichthyological Bulletin; No. 18]. Department of Ichthyology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa.
*Smith, J.L.B. 1959. [http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018774 Gobioid fishes of the families Gobiidae, Periophthalmidae, Trypauchenidae, Taenioididae, and Kraemeriidae of the Western Indian Ocean. Ichthyological Bulletin; No. 13]. Department of Ichthyology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa.
{{Diversity of fish}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q4468}}
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[[Category:Gobiidae| ]]
[[Category:Gobiiformes]]
[[Category:Symbiosis]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Georges Cuvier]]