Giuris margaritaceus (Valenciennes, 1837)
Snakehead gudgeon
photo by Ho, H.-C.

Family:  Eleotridae (Bully sleepers)
Max. size:  29 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 171.0 g; max.weight: 165.0 g
Environment:  demersal; freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 5 m, amphidromous
Distribution:  Africa to Oceania: Madagascar to New Guinea, Australia and other islands of Melanesia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-9; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 9-9. Body relatively large, stout and cylindrical with a dorsally flattened head; generally greenish brown with 8-10 dark bars across sides and large black blotch at base of pectoral fins; lower half of head tan or yellowish with 3-4 dark brown to reddish stripes radiating from lower part of eye (Ref. 44894).
Biology:  Adults occur in fresh water, estuaries and inshore (Ref. 86252). Found in a variety of habitats including rivers, swamps, coastal streams and floodplains over mud bottoms, often among dense aquatic vegetation or the cover of undercut banks. They feed mainly on aquatic insects and nymphs, but also takes lesser amount of algae, other aquatic plants and small crustaceans. Pelagic larval stage is found in marine water, but adults are always found in freshwater (Ref. 44894).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 24 August 2018 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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