Snoutspot Goby

The Snoutspot Goby (Amblygobius esakiae) is a tropical marine fish commonly found in reefs, inhabiting silty sand in shallow protected areas, such as inner reefs and intertidal flats near mangroves. They can be found at depths ranging from 2 to 15 meters (6.6 to 49.2 feet) and occasionally on muddy substrates down to about 10 meters (33 feet) deep. Geographically, they are seen in areas such as the 🌊 Red Sea and Papua 🇵🇬 New Guinea.

This species reaches a maximum length of 8.5 centimeters (3.3 inches). The Snoutspot Goby is characterized by its dull brownish to blue-grey body adorned with distinctive dark spots on the snout. It features rows of brownish streaks or spots behind the eyes and pairs of brown streaks on both the gill cover and pectoral fin base. Its dorsal fins, both the first and second, are equal in height, while the tail fin has a lance-like shape.

The fish has 6 to 7 dorsal spines and 14 to 15 dorsal soft rays, with 1 anal spine and 16 anal soft rays. Its body scales differ, with ctenoid scales on the body and cycloid scales on the nape, abdomen, and opercle. The cheeks have no scales, while the predorsal region is fully scaled. The longitudinal scale series ranges between 65 and 75.

The name "Amblygobius" derives from Greek and Latin origins, translating to "darkness gudgeon," which suits its subtle coloration and habitat. The Snoutspot Goby is generally seen in pairs, reflecting their social nature.