Glossogobius giuris (Hamilton, 1822)

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 659-660

Glossogobius giuris

Common name. Bareye goby.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other Glossogobius in Iran by: ○ middle rays in first dorsal not prolonged / ○ sensory papilla row 6 distinct and long / ○ caudal roundish / ○ upper part of opercle with cycloid scales / ● each cheek line with 2–3 (rarely more) rows of sensory papillae / ● papillae line 5 below eye and suborbital papillae line 7 single / ○ 18–28 predorsal scales /○ 1–2+1+6–9, usually 1–2+1+7–8 gill rakers. Size up to 240 mm SL.

Distribution. West Asia: Sarbaz drainage, in Iranian Makran most likely west to Bandar-e Jask. Possibly also along coast of Oman and Yemen. From Iran along coasts of Pakistan and India to Japan, south to Australia, widespread in Oceania. In Red Sea, along east coast of Africa, including Madagascar.

Habitat. Lower part of rivers and coastal lagoons, usually on soft bottoms. Most common in brackish water. Less common in fast-flowing waters on gravel or rocky bottoms.

Often found in mangroves in sea. Migrates up to 300 km upstream.

Biology. Facultatively amphidromous can be landlocked in reservoirs and lakes. Matures at about 80-100 mm SL and spawns several times during season. Male guard eggs and larvae swim downstream. Feeds on small insects, crustaceans and small fish. Often buried in fine sediments. Conservation status. LC.

Remarks. The G. giuris species complex in the Indo-West Pacific comprises several molecular lineages, including two unidentified clusters. It remains to be seen which of these correspond to G. giuris . The distribution of G. giuris here corresponds to the species found in Iran ( G. giuris B). A species of commercial importance, especially in tropical Asia. The maximum size of this species is given as 500 mm total length, but we have serious doubts that such large individuals exist. Further reading. Maugé 1986 (distribution); Pethiyagoda 1991 (food); Pusey et al. 2004 (upriver migration); Zarei et al. 2023 (distribution).

Glossogobius laticeps ; Gabrik, Iran; juvenile, 74 mm SL.© H. R. Esmaeili