Animal Species:Blueband Goby, Valenciennea strigata (Broussonet, 1782)

Alternative Name/s

The species has also been called the Bluestreak Goby, Golden-head Sleeper Goby, and Golden-headed Sleeper.

Identification

The Blueband Goby can be recognised by its colouration. It is light grey above and white below. There is a black-edged blue stripe from the mouth to the rear of the operculum. Behind the eye is a short blue dash, and there are several curved markings on the lower sides of the head.

Size range

The species grows to 18 cm in length.

Distribution

It occurs in tropical marine waters of the Indo-Pacific.

In Australia it is known from north-western Western Australia and from the northern Great Barrier Reef south to the central coast of New South Wales.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Blueband Goby specimens in the Australian Museum.

What does this mean?

Classification

Species:

strigata

Genus:

Valenciennea

Family:

Gobiidae

Order:

Perciformes

Class:

Actinopterygii

What does this mean?

References

1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
2. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
3. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.

Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated: 14 March 2013

Tags fishes, ichthyology, Blueband Goby, Valenciennea strigata, Gobiidae, light grey, long and skinny, 10 cm - 30 cm, stripes, soft substrate (sand), marine, blue stripe on head, yellow mouth, light gray,