Spangled Gudgeon (Ophiocara ophicephalus)

Image source: Brett Vercoe | inaturalist.org
General data
- Main name: Spangled Gudgeon
- Climates: Tropical, Subtropical
- Habitat: Amfidromous
- Native: Asia, Australia & Oceania
- Distribution: Pacific Ocean, Indian ocean
Classification
- Genus: Ophiocara - Ophiocara
- Family: Butidae - Butidae
- Order: Gobiiformes - Gobies
- Class: Teleostei - Ray-finned fishes
- Superclass: Osteichthyes - Bony fishes
Description
Indo-West Pacific: East Africa to the Philippines, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Australia and New Caledonia. Max length: 34 cm TL Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-9; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 7. Head and body dark; 2nd dorsal and caudal spotted; juveniles with irregular crossbars. Adults occur in brackish estuaries, river mouths and freshwater creeks.. Found in the lower courses of rivers, often upstream from the tidal zone. Young are usually found while wading in rocky creeks near the coast.