1. Suborder Gobiodei: The Gobies
Thomas J Bland
Olatunde Akinwale
21 November, 2008

2. Gobiodei 9 families, 270 genera, 2211 species Benthic Mostly Marine
Small bodied

4. Gobiodei Swim bladder absent Pelvic fins below pectoral fins
Fused (usually)
Lateral line reduced
Cephalic canals
Can be highly variable among species

5. Phylogenetics
Gobioidei is monophyletic
Families are not
Thacker 2003

6. Loach Gobies Family Rhyacicthyidae 1 genus, 2 species
Most primitive goby
Retains well developed lateral line

7. Freshwater Sleepers Family Odontobutidae 5 genera, 15 species
May not be monophyletic

8. Sleepers Family Eleotridae 35 genera, 155 species
Family Eleotridae
35 genera, 155 species
Marine, brackish, and freshwater
Pelvic fins separate
Oxyeleotris marmorata reaches 66cm

9. Sand Gobies Family Kraemeriidae 2 genera, 8 species Elongate body
Burrow into sand
animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu

10. Gobies, True Gobies Family Gobiidae 210 genera, >2000 species
10-20 new species/year
Round goby (Neogobius melanostomus)
animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu

11. Wormfishes Family Microdesmidae 5 genera, 20 species Very elongate
Burrow into substrate

12. Infantfishes Family Schindleriidae 1 genus, 3 species
Highly Paedomorphic
Transparent, some bones/cartilage does not develop
Lightest, shortest lived vertebrate

13. Round Goby (Neogobius melanostomus)

14. Round Goby (Neogobius melanostomus)
Ballast water introduction

15. Round Goby High reproductive rate Aggressive
Displaces native benthic fishes
Eat fish eggs and native mussels
Native predator of Zebra Mussel (Driessena polymorpha)
animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu

16. Shrimp Goby

17. Goby vids
Forward the second video to 0:30

18. Mudskippers Subfamily Oxudercinae 10 genera, 39 species
Distribution ranges from
Tropical and subtropical
Intertidal soft-bottomed
Shores of West Africa and
Indo-Pacific region.

19. Mudskippers (cont’d)
Some species possess adaptations to terrestrial environment and amphibious life.
In particular, periophthalms (genus Periophthalmus) and boleophthalms (genus Boleophthalmus) include species that inspired popular and scientific imagination since the dawn of the Natural Sciences.

20. Mudskippers (cont’d)
Periophthalmus argentilineatus Boleophthalmus pectinirostris

21. Questions What adaptations do gobies have for a benthic lifestyle?
Why are loach gobies considered the most primitive gobies?
Why is Gobiidae so speciose?
Why do experts think there may be lots of undiscovered species in Gobiidae?
Where is the round goby native to?
What role does the goby play in the shrimp goby/shrimp mutualism?