Ophiocara gigas
Ophiocara gigas Kobayashi & Sato, 2023
Giant mud-gudgeon

Family:  Butidae (Gudgeon gobies)
Max. size:  13.72 cm SL (male/unsexed); 13.52 cm SL (female)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater; brackish; marine, amphidromous
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific: Japan (Ryukyu Archipelago), the Philippines, Palau, Micronesia, Indonesia, the Solomon Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia; including Papua New Guinea (New Ireland).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7-7; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 7-8; Vertebrae: 25-26. This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: longitudinal row scales 32-36; predorsal scales 21-26; snout length 10.3-12.0% of SL; upper jaw length 13.6-16.2% of SL; pectoral fin length in young specimens (< 97.7 mm SL) 25.0-27.6% of SL; caudal fin length 28.3-36.7% of SL; opercular scales cycloid; infraorbital neuromast rows from the eye are usually seven. Colouration: trunk with two beige oblique bands; dorsal and caudal fins with dark brown spots; juveniles with white or light brown markings on middle and ventral parts of caudal fin base (Ref. 133165).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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