Acentrogobius nebulosus (Forsskål, 1775)
Shadow goby
Acentrogobius nebulosus
photo by Ryanskiy, A.

Family:  Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobiinae
Max. size:  18 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 15 m, amphidromous
Distribution:  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.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 9-9. 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).

Description: Outwardly-curved enlarged tooth at each side of lower jaw (Ref. 2798). Dorsal fin with 7 spines and 9 soft rays; anal fin with 1 spine and 9 soft rays; pectoral fin with 18-19 rays (Ref. 2798). Scales on lateral line 26-30; midline of nape naked (Ref. 2798).

Colouration: Pale grey body colour with three large dark brown blotches on side; head and body with faint brown scribbling (Ref. 90102). Margins of median fins often black (Ref. 2798).
Biology:  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).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 01 July 2016 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  poisonous to eat


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