Andamia

Andamia is a genus of fish in the family Gobiidae, commonly known as the gobies. There are currently three recognized species within this genus: Andamia tetradactyla (Four-fingered goby), Andamia homorhynchus (Homorhynchus goby), and Andamia loxozonus (Loxozone goby). These fish are small in size, typically less than 10 cm in length. They are characterized by their elongated bodies, large eyes, and distinct, often colorful, patterns on their scales.

East Indian lipsucker – Andamia heteroptera

Four-fingered lipsucker – Andamia tetradactylus

Characteristics

Andamia species are generally small, with most species reaching a maximum length of around 8-10 cm. They have elongated bodies with slightly compressed sides. Their heads are relatively large, with large, forward-facing eyes. The mouth is small and slightly upturned, and the teeth are small and pointed. They have a distinctive, often colorful pattern of stripes or spots on their scales, which varies between species and can be used for identification. They also have a single, dorsal fin with a distinct, spiny section followed by a soft-rayed section.

Environments

Andamia species are found in tropical and subtropical marine environments, primarily associated with coral reefs and rocky shores. They prefer shallow, inshore waters with abundant algae and invertebrate life. They are generally found in crevices, amongst rocks, and under ledges, where they find shelter from predators and access to their preferred food sources.

Distribution

The distribution of Andamia species varies by species:

  • Andamia tetradactyla is found in the Indo-Pacific region, from the Red Sea and East Africa to the Philippines and Australia.
  • Andamia homorhynchus is found in the western Pacific Ocean, from the Philippines to the Solomon Islands.
  • Andamia loxozonus is found in the western Pacific Ocean, from the Philippines to the Solomon Islands.

References

  • Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2023). "Andamia" in FishBase. April 2023 version.
  • Smith-Vaniz, W.F. and J.S. Nelson. 1980. A review of the genus Andamia (Pisces: Gobiidae), with descriptions of two new species. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 132: 169-187.