Stenogobius hawaiiensis Watson, 1991
Stenogobius hawaiiensis
photo by Awai, M.

Family:  Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobionellinae
Max. size:  11.43 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater; brackish
Distribution:  Oceania: high islands of Hawaii.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-11; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 10-11. Easily identified by the dark black bar extending downward through the eye and the yellow-brown body color; during courtship, both males and females with 9-11 black bars on their flanks and a red border on the edge of the dorsal fins; black eye bar becomes prominent; males develop a dusky flush to their throats and lower jaw (Ref. 44091). Largest Insularigobius recorded; possesses a relatively high scale count in horizontal series, 47-52, usually 48-50; high predorsal scale count, always fully scaled, 16-23, usually 19-20; belly anteriorly almost always scaled close to pelvic base; breast always with many embedded scales; up to five rows of teeth in upper jaw and up to six in lower jaw (Ref. 34009).
Biology:  A poor climber and thus restricted to the lower reaches and adjoining brackish waters; found in both altered and unaltered streams; omnivorous and a benthic feeder on filamentous algae, worms, crustaceans and insect larvae; not highly sought as food by the early Hawaiians (Ref. 44091). Benthic (Ref. 58302).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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