Snubnose Gobies (Pseudogobius sp.)
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| The most commonly seen snubnose goby - Pseudogobius poicilosoma. |
Family: Oxudercidae: Gobionellinae
Habitat: Brackish to freshwater. Mudflats, tidal creeks, mangrove pools etc.
The genus Pseudogobius has 7 species recorded in the third edition of Singapore's Red Data Book. These gobies are usually small, averaging out between 2 and 6cm. Species such as the Spotted Snubnose Goby (Pseudogobius poicilosoma) can be found in almost every estuarine habitat across different salinity ranges, while other species such as Pseudogobius melanosticta appear to prefer near freshwater salinity. All species pick small invertebrates off the sediment or whatever surface they're on.
1. Spotted Snubnose Goby (Pseudogobius poicilosoma)
1. Spotted Snubnose Goby (Pseudogobius poicilosoma)
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| Blue arrow: the blue dot on the dorsal fin that makes this species easy to ID! |
Species Name(s): Pseudogobius poicilosoma
Common Name(s): Spotted Snubnose Goby, Northern Fatnose Goby
Common Name(s): Spotted Snubnose Goby, Northern Fatnose Goby
Presence in Singapore: Native
Habitat: Various estuarine habitats from near freshwater to full marine salinity.
Conservation status: Least Concern (Red Data Book 3)
Habitat: Various estuarine habitats from near freshwater to full marine salinity.
Conservation status: Least Concern (Red Data Book 3)
This is the most abundant snubnose goby one will encounter in our estuaries and also one of the most common gobies too. An ideal angle would reveal a blue dot on the dorsal fin, which distinguishes this species from the rest. The vertical black stripes and lack of a yellow peduncle also helps narrow down this species.
2. Blackline Snubnose Goby (Pseudogobius verticalis)
3. Yellowfin Snubnose Goby (Pseudogobius fulvicaudus)
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| A Blackline Snubnose Goby displaying the yellow peduncle and dorsal fin colouration. |
Species Name(s): Pseudogobius verticalis
Common Name(s): Blackline Snubnose Goby
Common Name(s): Blackline Snubnose Goby
Presence in Singapore: Native
Habitat: Brackish. Mangrove pools and creeks.
Conservation status: Near Threatened (Red Data Book 3)
Habitat: Brackish. Mangrove pools and creeks.
Conservation status: Near Threatened (Red Data Book 3)
This species is often seen alongside the Spotted Snubnose Goby and similar-looking Yellowfin Snubnose Goby (Pseudogobius fulvicaudus).
Both the Blackline Snubnose Goby and Yellowfin Snubnose Goby possess a yellow peduncle, alongside fins with significant portions of yellow. The first dorsal fine of the Blackline Snubnose Goby is a vertical stripe of black against yellow something like the photo on the right.
Both the Blackline Snubnose Goby and Yellowfin Snubnose Goby possess a yellow peduncle, alongside fins with significant portions of yellow. The first dorsal fine of the Blackline Snubnose Goby is a vertical stripe of black against yellow something like the photo on the right.
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| A relatively colourful Blackline Snubnose Goby showing off its fins! |
3. Yellowfin Snubnose Goby (Pseudogobius fulvicaudus)
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| A Yellowfin Snubnose Goby flaring at another individual, showing off the ID features! |
Species Name(s): Pseudogobius fulvicaudus
Common Name(s): Yellowfin Snubnose Goby
Common Name(s): Yellowfin Snubnose Goby
Presence in Singapore: Native
Habitat: Brackish. Mangrove pools and creeks.
Conservation status: Near Threatened (Red Data Book 3)
Habitat: Brackish. Mangrove pools and creeks.
Conservation status: Near Threatened (Red Data Book 3)
yellow stripe in the middle of two black stripes as shown on the right.
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| A closer look at the Yellowfin Snubnose Goby. |
4. Black-spotted Snubnose Goby (Pseudogobius melanosticta)
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| A Black-spotted Snubnose Goby showing off its black cheek stripes. |
Species Name(s): Pseudogobius melanosticta
Common Name(s): Black-spotted Snubnose Goby
Common Name(s): Black-spotted Snubnose Goby
Presence in Singapore: Native
Habitat: Brackish, near freshwater. Mangrove pools and creeks.
Conservation status: Near Threatened (Red Data Book 3)
Habitat: Brackish, near freshwater. Mangrove pools and creeks.
Conservation status: Near Threatened (Red Data Book 3)
A lesser seen snubnose goby but distinct from the rest presented so far. This species is noted to inhabit salinities nearer to freshwater. The black cheek stripe is slanted in this species and the dorsal fin is tall, with two black stripes ending in black blotch at the end.
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| A Black-spotted Snubnose Goby displaying its tall dorsal fin clearly! (Photograph by: Zick Soh) |
Common Name(s): Avicennia Snubnose Goby
Presence in Singapore: Native
Habitat: Brackish. Mangrove fringes, pools and creeks.
Conservation status: Near Threatened (Red Data Book 3)
Habitat: Brackish. Mangrove fringes, pools and creeks.
Conservation status: Near Threatened (Red Data Book 3)
Another lesser seen species of snubnose goby thought to prefer living near and along the fringes of mangroves. This species is identified by the presence of a distinct, black ocellus on the peduncle (labelled with a white arrow on the right).
This species has been observed foraging on mangrove roots during high tide as seen in https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/316740558.
Not yet encountered:
- Masago Snubnose Goby (Pseudogobius masago)
- Barfin Snubnose Goby (Pseudogobius yanamensis)
References
- Larson, H. K., & Hammer, M. P. (2021). A revision of the gobiid fish genus Pseudogobius (Teleostei: Gobiidae: Tridentigerinae), with description of seven new species from Australia and South-east Asia.
- Lim, K.K.P. & Low, J.K.Y. 1998. A Guide to Common Marine Fishes of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre, 163 pp. ISBN 981-00-9904-5.
- National Parks Board (NParks). Marine Fishes. Retrieved from https://www.nparks.gov.sg/nature/species-list/marine-fishes.
- Ong JXL (2024) Biodiversity Record: Gobies in mangrove tide pools at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. Nature in Singapore, 17: e2024035. DOI: 10.26107/NIS-2024-0035
- Ong JXL (2025) Biodiversity Record: Aggressive conspecific interactions of two species of mangrove gobies. Nature in Singapore, 18: e2025040. DOI: 10.26107/NIS-2025-0040
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