Favonigobius melanobranchus (Fowler, 1934)
Blackthroat goby
Favonigobius melanobranchus
photo by Bogorodsky, S.V.

Family:  Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobiinae
Max. size:  8.3 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 5 m
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific (Ref. 2798) and the Mediterranean Sea (Ref. 80021).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-9; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 8-9. Body with small spots; sides with 4-5 groups of black spots, last spot on caudal peduncle often paired and ending with a thin vertical bar at caudal fin base (Ref. 2798). Males with 6-8 dark vertical lines on belly; dorsal, anal and pelvic fins dusky to black; caudal fin with thin wavy bars and upper margin with 1-2 black spots (Ref. 2798). Females with spotted fins except for pelvic fins (Ref. 2798); characterized further by having pelvic fins united medially; presence of pelvic frenum; rounded caudal fin; longitudinal scale series 27-28; ctenoid scales except cycloid on breast and base of pectoral fin base; predorsal scales 1-2, no scales on remainder of head; depth of body 5.8-6.2 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Inhabits silty sand bottoms and seagrass areas (Ref. 11441).
IUCN Red List Status: Lower Risk: near threatened (LR/nt); Date assessed: 01 August 1996 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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