The Goby reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Jul-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Goby

Gobies
Clown goby, Microgobius gulosus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes Family: Gobiidae
Genera
Many, e.g. Gobius Microgobius Periophthalmus

The Gobies form the family Gobiidae, the largest family of marine fishes, with over 2000 species. Among the most typical members of the family are the Mudskippers. While fish from several different genera bear this name, most mudskippers are classified in one of two genera, Gobius and Periophthalmus

Periophtalmus barbarus (which has also been known as P. cantonensis and as Gobius barbarus) is a typical mudskipper. This fish is found in tidal areas from Japan to East Indies , India South Pacific Islands, East Africa, and Australia. It usually is about 1 foot long. This fish can jump, walk,skip, and see in the air. It is said that a mudskipper is agile enough to outrun a boy. It has two big bulgy eyes at the top of its head that are very close together. It can control its eyes and one eye can look above water while the other can look under water. This fish has strong muscles and has been reported to have jumped over 20 feet. The fish lives in mudholes and can move about in a root system of a swamp. A pair of these fish will engage in fights if kept together. Gobies are not generally suitable for captivity, although they are sometimes kept in aquaria. They are of no value for human food. This fish likes humidity and lives in about a 70-85F.

The dwarf variety can be as small as 7mm (for a weigth of 1g).

See also

• List of fish common names
• List of fish families
• Dragonet (a similar family often confused with gobies)

External link

• FishBase entry on Gobiidae

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