Classification / Names
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Teleostei (teleosts) >
Gobiiformes (Gobies) >
Butidae (Gudgeon gobies)
Etymology: Ophiocara: Greek, ophis = serpent + Greek, kara = face (Ref. 45335); gigas: Name 'gigas' refers to the adult maximum size in this species, being greater than those of congeners.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; amphidromous (Ref. 133165). Subtropical
Distribution
Territories | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri
West Pacific: Japan (Ryukyu Archipelago), the Philippines, Palau, Micronesia, Indonesia, the Solomon Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia; including Papua New Guinea (New Ireland).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 13.7 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 133165); 13.5 cm SL (female)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7; Anal spines: 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).
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal; Cross section: oval.
Often collected from lower freshwater streams and tidal estuaries in mangrove forests, especially near the upper limits of estuary reaches with freshwater inflow and low salinity (0-14‰, 3 sites). The adults and juveniles were usually found on emergent plants in daytime, motionless near riverbanks at night, with the latter also occurring in tide pools with muddy or gravel bottoms. Associated with other amphidromous eleotrids, Eleotris fusca and Giuris tolsoni, inhabiting the same site. Also often observed with Eleotris acanthopomus and Redigobius bikolanus. Consumed in Japan (Ref. 133165).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Kobayashi, H. and M. Sato, 2023. The genus Ophiocara (Teleostei: Butidae) in Japan, with descriptions of two new species. Ichthyol. Res. 71(1):119-153. (Ref. 133165)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial
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