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Gobiiformes (Gobies) >
Gobiidae (Gobies) > Gobiinae
Etymology: Gladiogobius: Latin, gladius = sword + Latin, gobius = gudgeon (Ref. 45335); rex: Named for its brave appearance with armature consisting of a very long , sword-like preopercle spine; Latin 'rex' for king.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range 0 - 2 m (Ref. 90102). Tropical
Indian Ocean: Andaman Sea to Red Sea.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 3.9 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 79803)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 6 - 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 10; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 9. Characterized by pale grey body color with narrow brown stripes and longitudinal rows of bluish white dots on side of body; lower side of body with row of five rectangular brown blotches; irregular brown markings on back; head with dark oblique lines; presence of large brown spot above pectoral fin base; dorsal spines sometimes with filamentous tips; rounded caudal fin; longitudinal scale series 23-25; head and nape without scales; ctenoid body scales except cycloid on abdomen, pectoral fin base and prepelvic region; median predorsal scales absent; opening of gill not reaching to above edge of preopercle; very long cheek spine, length about twice eye diameter and extending well beyond posterior margin of opercular membrane; depth of body 4.8-6.0 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Body shape (shape guide): elongated.
Inhabits shoreline reefs and intertidal flats with sand, mud, or silt bottoms in 0-2 m (Ref. 90102).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Shibukawa, K. and G.R. Allen, 2007. Review of the cheek-spine goby genus Gladiogobius (Actinopterygii, Perciformes, Gobiidae), with descriptions of two new species from the Indo-West Pacific. Bull. Natl. Mus. Nat. Sci., Ser. 33(4):193-206. (Ref. 79803)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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