© Baker, J.L. (2009) Marine Species of Conservation Concern in South Australia Full citation Baker, J.L. (2009) Marine Species of Conservation Concern in South Australia: Volume 1 - Bony and Cartilaginous Fishes. Report for the South Australian Working Group for Marine Species of Conservation Concern. J. Baker (consultant); Science and Conservation Division, and Coast and Marine Conservation branches of S.A. Department for Environment and Heritage (DEH); Marine and Coastal Community Network of S.A. (MCCN), and Threatened Species Network (TSN). Web version published by Reef Watch, South Australia.

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Sicklefin Sand Goby

Family Name:	Gobiidae
Scientific Name:	Nesogobius sp. 5 (Hoese and Larson, in Gomon et al., 1994) Nesogobius sp. 3 (in Kuiter, 1996b)
Recommended Status in S.A:	Data Deficient
Rationale:  The species is included here because (i) there are few records of Sicklefin Sand Goby in S.A., and the distribution is poorly known, due to lack of targeted sampling for small, cryptic fishes; (ii) the species apparently has a narrow depth range in shallow subtidal waters; (iii) gobies are typically benthic nest spawners and egg guarders, and hence populations may be vulnerable to localised / site specific impacts.

Page Contents

Current Conservation Status

(no listings known)
 

Distribution

Southern Australia

The species has been recorded from Tasmania and Bass Strait islands (e.g. King I., Flinders I.); the south coast of Victoria (e.g. Portsea, Point Lonsdale, and locations in Port Phillip Bay), and Kangaroo Island in South Australia, but is likely to be more widespread (Hoese and Larson, in Gomon et al., 1994; Kuiter, 1996b; Edgar et al., 1999; Plummer et al., 2003).
There are few published records, and the distribution is described as uncertain (Kuiter, 1996b).
 

South Australia

Few records could be found for this report. Hoese and Larson (in Gomon et al., 1994) reported that the species occurs around Kangaroo Island, and there are also survey records from Barker Inlet (Jackson and Jones, 1999; Gillanders et al., 2008) and from Edithburgh in western Gulf St Vincent (K. Smith, unpubl. data, 2004; photograph by D. Colella, 2008). The distribution within S.A. is poorly known, due to lack of targeted surveys for small, cryptic fishes such as Nesogobius species, and the Sicklefin Sand Goby is likely to be more widespread than limited published records suggest. It is noted that a Nesogobius species was recorded in northern Spencer Gulf during trawl surveys in 2003 (P. Jennings, SARDI, unpubl. survey data, 2003), but not identified to species level.
 

Habitat

Sicklefin Sand Goby is found on sand, and in shallow coastal seagrass beds, between 2m and 10m (Hoese and Larson, in Gomon et al., 1994). In Tasmania, Sicklefin Sand Goby has been recorded in various estuaries on King Island and Flinders Island, and in estuaries around Tasmania, including the Tamar, Derwent and Huon, amongst others (Edgar et al., 1999).
 

Notes on the Biology

Sicklefin Sand Goby grows to around 4cm (Hoese and Larson, in Gomon et al., 1994) or 6cm (Kuiter, 1996b).
In a Tasmanian seagrass meadow, Robertson and White (1986) reported one of the unnamed Nesogobius species to be an active feeder when intertidal regions are flooded, with errant polychaete worms and amphipods recorded as predominant dietary components. It is possible that other seagrass-dwelling Nesogobius species have a similar diet. 
The Sicklefin Sand Goby is usually seen in small aggregations (Kuiter, 1996b).
Members of the family are typically nest spawners, with males guarding the eggs (Hoese, 1998).
 

Vulnerable Characteristics of the Species, and Threatening Processes

The Sicklefin Sand Goby has been reported from sand and seagrass habitats over a narrow depth range in the shallow subtidal. Due to the habitat requirements of this species, populations in some nearshore areas may be vulnerable to site-specific coastal marine impacts.
Gobies are benthic nest spawners and egg guarders, a population characteristic that increases their vulnerability to site-specific impacts on habitat.
 

Research Requirements

Both the distribution and relative abundance of this species in South Australia are poorly known. The species is small and likely to be easily missed in benthic fish surveys. Targeted surveys of small benthic fish in shallow subtidal sand and seagrass habitats may help to increase knowledge of the distribution and relative abundance of smaller goby species such as the Sicklefin Sand Goby.
Specimens in the Nesogobius collection at South Australian Museum should be identified to species level where possible, to increase the number of locations known for the various species in this genus. 
When the less commonly known goby species are recorded in surveys, fish taxonomy experts should be sought to provide species-specific determinations. Voucher specimens and/or photographs should be taken.
 

Management Requirements

Generally, ongoing measures are required to protect (from further degradation) shallow subtidal seagrass and sand habitats in South Australia.