Nakedcheek sandgoby facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nakedcheek sandgoby |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Gobiiformes |
| Family: | Oxudercidae |
| Genus: | Gnatholepis |
| Species: |
G. gymnocara
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| Binomial name | |
| Gnatholepis gymnocara (Randall & Greenfield, 2001)
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The Gnatholepis gymnocara, also known as the Nakedcheek sandgoby, is a small fish. It belongs to a group of fish called ray-finned fish. This little goby is mostly found in the Indian Ocean, especially near the coast of Australia.
What Does It Look Like?
One of the most special things about the Nakedcheek sandgoby is its "naked cheeks." This is how it got its name! Unlike many other fish, it doesn't have any scales on its cheeks or on the bony flap that covers its gills, called the operculum. These areas are smooth and bare.
It does have a few small, round scales near its pectoral fins (the fins on its sides) and on its chest. The fish's lower lip might have a small fold, but it doesn't have a big, distinct flap like some other goby species. Also, its teeth are all about the same size; none are much bigger than the others.
Size and Coloration
Male Nakedcheek sandgobies can grow up to about 3.7 centimeters long. That's roughly the length of your thumb! Their bodies are a light tan or dusky color. They have six darker, dusky blotches along their sides. You might also see a row of horizontal spots and streaks on their bodies.
Each cheek has a dark, cross-shaped blotch that starts near the eye and goes downwards. There's a small brown spot at the base of their tail fin, which is about the same size as their eye pupil. Male gobies have a small dark spot at the base of their first dorsal fin (the fin on their back), but female gobies do not have this spot.
Where Does It Live?
The Nakedcheek sandgoby lives in the western Pacific Ocean, mainly around Australia. It prefers shallow ocean waters, usually found between 0 and 1 meter deep. Most of these fish are found in water about half a meter deep. While they mostly live in salty ocean water, some have also been found in brackish water. Brackish water is a mix of fresh and salty water, like in estuaries where rivers meet the sea.
See also
In Spanish: Gnatholepis gymnocara para niños
