Cantor's Gudgeon (Ophiocara cantoris)
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| A colourful Cantor's Gudgeon found in Berlayer Creek. |
Family: Butidae
Species Name(s): Ophiocara cantoris
Common Name(s): Cantor's Gudgeon
Common Name(s): Cantor's Gudgeon
Presence in Singapore: Native
Habitat: Brackish. Mangrove creeks and canals. Shelters among mangrove roots etc.
Conservation status: Near Threatened (Red Data Book 3)
Habitat: Brackish. Mangrove creeks and canals. Shelters among mangrove roots etc.
Conservation status: Near Threatened (Red Data Book 3)
The Cantor's Gudgeon is a commonly-seen mangrove fish that one might mistaken for a fat goby. Its usual colouration is a distinct brown with two white vertical white bands, accompanied by whitish-yellow dots throughout the body. It can also appear fully dark brown as well, which is often seen in larger individuals. The average length of this fish is around 9 to 11cm but like its relative Ophiocara ophicephalus, it can probably grow to twice the average length.
The Cantor's Gudgeon is an ambush predator, hovering slowly in the water column or among shelter such as mangrove roots and leaf litter. It waits for small fishes and invertebrates to get close before snapping them up with a burst of speed.
In the Third Edition of the Singapore Red Data Book, it is referred to as Ophiocara porocephala and it is also referred to as O.ophicephalus in past records. O.cantoris should be the current correct name for the local species as a review of all 3 species differentiates them at the genetic and morphological level (Keith & Mennesson, 2021).
The Cantor's Gudgeon is an ambush predator, hovering slowly in the water column or among shelter such as mangrove roots and leaf litter. It waits for small fishes and invertebrates to get close before snapping them up with a burst of speed.
In the Third Edition of the Singapore Red Data Book, it is referred to as Ophiocara porocephala and it is also referred to as O.ophicephalus in past records. O.cantoris should be the current correct name for the local species as a review of all 3 species differentiates them at the genetic and morphological level (Keith & Mennesson, 2021).
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| A large Cantor's Gudgeon seen in Pasir Ris. Note the faded stripes. |
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| A juvenile Cantor's Gudgeon seen in Pasir Ris. (Photograph by: Lumin Ong Jun Xiang) |
References
- 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.
- Philippe Keith, Marion I. Mennesson. Review of Ophiocara (Teleostei: Butidae) from Indo-Pacific Islands. Cybium : Revue Internationale d’Ichtyologie, 2021, ⟨10.26028/cybium/2021-452-002⟩. ⟨hal-03337214⟩
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