Desert Goby, Chlamydogobius eremius (Zietz, 1896)

Scientific name: Chlamydogobius eremius
Desert Goby, Chlamydogobius eremius Click to enlarge image
A male Desert Goby photographed in an aquarium at the Australian Museum. The fish is from the third generation of offspring of specimens caught in Coward Springs, South Australia and kept on display in the Australian Museum Biodiversity Gallery. Image: Kerryn Parkinson
© Australian Museum

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Chlamydogobius
    Species
    eremius
    Family
    Gobiidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 6 cm in length.

Introduction

The Desert Goby occurs in the western and southern Lake Eyre drainage in Australia, in freshwaters fed by artesian springs. It can withstand large fluctuations in temperature, salinity, pH and dissolved oxygen.

Identification

The Desert Goby is brown-grey to yellowish with darker mottling and sometimes 7 or 8 darker saddles across the back. The head is yellow below. The first dorsal fin of males is black with blue and yellow bands.

Habitat

It occurs in freshwaters fed by artesian springs.

Distribution

The Desert Goby occurs in the western and southern Lake Eyre drainage, Australia.

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.

Other behaviours and adaptations

The Desert Goby can withstand large fluctuations in temperature, salinity, pH and dissolved oxygen.

Conservation status

See Adam Kerezsy's article on the Conservation website.

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1989. Freshwater Fishes of Australia. T.F.H. Publications. Pp. 240.
  2. Allen, G.R., Midgley, S.H. & M. Allen. 2002. Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 394.
  3. Merrick, J.R. & G.E. Schmida. 1984. Australian Freshwater Fishes. Biology and Management. John R. Merrick. Pp. 409.