| Family: |
Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobionellinae |
| Max. size: |
2.5 cm TL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 2 years |
| Environment: |
demersal; freshwater; depth range 0 - 12 m, non-migratory |
| Distribution: |
Asia: found only in the Philippines in Lakes Buhi, Bato, Katugday and Manapao in Camarines Sur Province and along the Bicol River system. Threatened due to overfishing and predation by introduced fish species. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 4-4; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6-8; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 8-10. Fresh specimens transparent, with large eyes showing the only color, black. Males smaller than females, shorter and more slender. Head naked; body covered with deciduous scales. Scales in longitudinal series 23-24; in transverse series 6. Sides and back of head with few dark or black spots. |
| Biology: |
Adults occur from the shoreline to depths of at least 12 m. Caught with collapsible Y-shaped push-nets (sakag); also aggregated using a device (abung) wherein the fish comes to rest upon palm leaves and are then harvested using triangular nets (sarap). Sinarapan is a delicacy and of great economic importance to the communities around the lakes. Listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as 'smallest food fish' (Ref. 6472). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Vulnerable (VU); Date assessed: 07 September 2020 (B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
| Country info: |
Type locality of Mistichthys luzonensis Lake Buhi, Luzon Island, USNM 50303-04 (syntypes) (Ref. 97102). Originally found in Lake Buhi, Camarines Sur, the pygmy goby was exceedingly abundant until 1960 after which it declined and faced extinction in 1978. Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus and O. niloticus), grunt or ayungin (Therapon sp.), snakehead (Ophicephalus striatus), and possibly the goby (Glossogobius sp.) introduced in the lake and feeding on this species contributed to the decline of the population. Collected a specimen for the living fish museum (Ref. 81820). The only viable stock is found in Lake Manapao (Camarines Sur Province), now declared as a sanctuary for this vulnerable species. Also used as an aquarium species (Ref. 12157). Also Ref. 12550, 94476. |
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