Goby
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Uroboros
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{{Taxobox
| name = Gobies
| image = Microgobius gulosus1.jpg
| image_caption = ''[[Microgobius gulosus]]''
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[Actinopterygii]]
| ordo = [[Perciformes]]
| familia = '''Gobiidae'''
| subdivision_ranks = Subfamilies
| subdivision =
[[Amblyopinae]]<br/>
[[Gobiinae]]<br/>
[[Gobionellinae]]<br/>
[[Oxudercinae]]<br/>
[[Sicydiinae]]<br/>
See also [[list of Gobiidae genera]]
}}
{{wikispecies|Gobiidae}}
The '''gobies''' form the [[family (biology)|family]] '''Gobiidae''', which is one of the largest families of [[fish]], with more than 2,000 [[species]] in more than 200 [[genera]].<ref>{{FishBase family | family = Gobiidae | month = January | year = 2006}}</ref> Most are relatively small, typically less than 10 cm (4 in) in length. Gobies include some of the smallest [[vertebrates]] in the world, like species of the genera ''[[Trimmaton]]'' and ''[[Pandaka]]'', which are under 1 cm (3/8 in) long when fully grown. There are some large gobies, such as some species of the genera ''[[Gobioides]]'' or ''[[Periophthalmodon]]'', that can reach over 30 cm (1 ft) in length, but that is exceptional. Although few are important as food for humans, they are of great significance as prey species for commercially important fish like [[cod]], [[haddock]], [[sea bass]], and [[flatfish]]. Several gobies are also of interest as aquarium fish, such as the bumblebee gobies of the genus ''[[Brachygobius]]''.
The most distinctive aspect of goby 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]]. Gobies can often be seen using the sucker to adhere to rocks and [[coral]]s, and in [[aquarium|aquariums]] they will happily stick to glass walls of the tank as well.
Gobies 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 small number of gobies (unknown exactly, but in the low hundreds) are also fully adapted to [[freshwater]] environments. These include the Asian river gobies (''[[Rhinogobius]]'' spp.), the Australian desert goby (''[[Chlamydogobius|Chlamydogobius eremius]]''), and the European freshwater goby ''[[Padogobius bonelli]]''.
==Mudskippers==
{{main|Mudskipper}}
Mudskippers are highly specialised members of the family, usually ascribed to the subfamily [[Oxudercinae]]. They are able to survive for extended periods on land through a combination of behavioural and physiological adaptations, including pectoral fins that act as simple legs; the ability to breathe through their skins (like frogs); and the digging of damp burrows to avoid drying out. Mudskippers live in tidal areas, particular on mudflats and in mangrove forests, and are only found in tropical and subtropical regions.
==Symbiosis==
[[image:Goby_fish_with_shrimp.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Some marine gobies live in symbiosis with a shrimp.]]
Gobies sometimes form [[symbiosis|symbiotic relationships]] with other species.<ref>{{cite book | author = G. S. Helfman, B. B. Colette & D. E. Facey | year = 1997 | title = The Diversity of Fishes | chapter = Chapter 21: Fishes as social animals | publisher = Blackwell | id = ISBN 0-86542-256-7}}</ref> Some goby species live in symbiosis with burrowing [[shrimps]]. The shrimp maintains a burrow in the sand in which both the shrimp and the goby fish live. The shrimp has poor eyesight compared to the goby, but if it sees or feels the goby suddenly swim into the burrow, it will follow. The goby and shrimp keep in contact with each other, the shrimp using its antennae, and the goby flicking the shrimp with its tail when alarmed. These gobies are thus sometimes known as '''watchman,or prawn gobies'''. Each party gains from this relationship: the shrimp gets a warning of approaching danger, and the goby gets a safe home and a place to lay its eggs.
Another example of symbiosis is demonstrated by the neon gobies (''[[Elacatinus]]'' spp.). These gobies are known as "cleaner gobies", and 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 that many of the fish that visit the cleaner gobies' [[cleaning station]] would otherwise treat such small fish as food (for example [[grouper]]s and [[snapper]]s). Again, this is a relationship where both parties gain: the gobies get a continual supply of food as big fish visit their cleaning stations, and the big fish leave the cleaning station healthier than they were when they arrived.
==In aquariums==
[[image:Rhinogobiusduosp.jpeg|thumb|200px|Two freshwater gobies, ''[[Rhinogobius duospilus]]'', a hardy subtropical species that does well in aquariums.]]
Several species of gobies are kept in aquariums. <ref>{{cite book | author = Frank Schäfer | year = 2005 | title = Brackish-Water Fishes | publisher = Aqualog | id = ISBN 3-936027-82-X (English), ISBN 3-936027-81-1 (German)}}</ref>
Most captive gobies are species from saltwater, and make excellent additions to healthy reef or fish only aquariums. 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 goby|shrimp gobies]] prefer to dig themselves little burrows. Potential keepers of these striking fish should provide them with a fine grained substrate to prevent damage to their delicate undersides. Commonly kept saltwater species include the [[Engineer Goby]], [[Randall's Shrimp Goby]], and [[Watchman Goby]]. The bumblebee gobies from the genus ''[[Brachygobius]]'' are perhaps the most widely traded freshwater species', being small, colourful, and easy to care for. They need tropical, hard and alkaline freshwater or slightly [[brackish]] conditions to do well. Gobies are generally peaceful towards their tankmates though territorial among themselves. Since most are small and few are predatory towards other fishes, they usually make good [[community tank|community fishes]]. Typically, the main problem with gobies is feeding them: with a few exceptions, the small species kept in aquariums prefer live or frozen foods rather than flake, and they are not very good at competing with active species such as [[cichlids]]. It is often recommended that gobies be kept on their own or with peaceful surface dwelling species such as [[halfbeak]]s and [[Guppy|guppies]].
== See also ==
* [[Sleeper goby|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.
* saltwater fish
* freshwater fish
* aquariums
* marine biology
==References==
<references/>
==External links==
*[http://www.gobiidae.com Gobioid Research Institute]
*[http://www.themudskipper.org Themudskipper.org: a website on mudskippers]
*[http://homepage.mac.com/nmonks/mudskippers/goby.htm Mudskipper & Goby Page for aquarists]
*[http://www.wetwebmedia.com/clnrfaqs.htm Article on cleaner gobies in aquaria]
*[http://homepage.mac.com/nmonks/aquaria/brackfaqpages/Small_fish/(6b)bumblebeeand.html Brackish Water Aquarium FAQ entry on gobies]
{{commonscat|Gobiidae}}
[[Category:Gobiidae| ]]
[[Category:Symbiosis]]
<gallery>
Image:Metallic Shrimp Goby.jpg|A Metallic Shrimp Goby in the South China Sea
</gallery>
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