Taenioides cirratus
Taenioides cirratus (Blyth, 1860)
Bearded worm goby
Taenioides cirratus
photo by Shao, K.T.

Family:  Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Amblyopinae
Max. size:  30 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 6 m, amphidromous
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: from East Africa to New Guinea; northward to Japan and Korean Peninsula (Ref 129193); southward to New Caledonia (Ref. 13246).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 6-6; Dorsal soft rays (total): 43-49; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 42-47
Biology:  Found in coastal waters, estuaries (Ref. 4833) and rivers (Ref. 2847). Mud-dweller presumed to occur in estuaries (Ref. 4343). Capable of living out of the water for considerable time by taking air into the bronchial chambers (Ref. 4833). Feeds on crustaceans and other invertebrates and probably small fishes (Ref. 12693). Not seen in markets (Ref. 12693).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 21 March 2024 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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