Gobies

Gobiidae

Gobiidae, commonly known as gobies, is a family of bony fish belonging to the order Gobiiformes. It is one of the largest fish families, comprising more than 2,000 species distributed among over 200 genera. Most gobiid fish are relatively small, typically measuring less than 10 cm (3.9 in) in length. In fact, the family includes some of the smallest known vertebrates in the world, including Trimmatom nanus and Pandaka pygmaea. When fully grown, Trimmatom nanus are under 1 cm long, while Pandaka pygmaea have a standard length of 9 mm (0.35 in), with a maximum known length of 11 mm (0.43 in).

While some gobies can grow larger, reaching lengths of over 30 cm (0.98 ft), this is considered exceptional. Gobies are primarily benthic or bottom-dwelling fish. Although they hold limited importance as food fish for humans, they play a crucial role as prey species for commercially significant fish such as cod, haddock, sea bass, and flatfish. Additionally, several gobiids are prized in the aquarium trade, with the dartfish species of the genus Ptereleotris being particularly sought-after.

Researchers have studied the phylogenetic relationships of gobiids using molecular data, gaining valuable insights into their evolutionary history and genetic connections.