© 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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Threadfin Sand Goby

Family Name:	Gobiidae
Scientific Name:	Nesogobius sp. 2 (Hoese and Larson, in Gomon et al., 1994, and Kuiter, 1996b)
Recommended Status in S.A:	Data Deficient
Rationale:  The species is included here because (i) there are few records of Threadfin Sand Goby in S.A., and the distribution is poorly known, due to lack of targeted sampling for small, cryptic fishes; (ii) it occurs in sandy habitats on the shallow continental shelf, and populations in some areas may be subject to site-specific impacts, such as benthic trawling (a process from which many of the known specimens have been found); and (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

The species has been recorded from Tasmania; Flinders Island and the Kent Group in Bass Strait, Port Phillip Bay in Victoria, and Edithburgh (Yorke Peninsula) in South Australia (Hoese and Larson, in Gomon et al., 1994; Kuiter, 1996a; Edgar, 1984, cited by Resource Planning and Development Commission, 2002; Edgar et al., 1999; photograph by J. Lewis, 2007).
There are few published records, with most reports being from trawl samples (Hoese and Larson, in Gomon et al., 1994).
It is noted that a Nesogobius species was recorded in northern Spencer Gulf during trawl surveys in 2003 (P. Jennings, SARDI, unpublished survey data, 2003), but not identified to species level.

Habitat

Scientific surveyors and recreational divers have recorded the species on sand, and Threadfin Sand Goby is well camouflaged on that substrate type.
Threadfin Sand Goby has been described a euryhaline marine species (Edgar et al., 1999). The species prefers sandy substrates, as evidenced by its collection in trawls over sand areas, between 7m and 55m depth (Hoese and Larson, in Gomon et al., 1994). In Tasmania, the species has been recorded (e.g. in sand flat habitats) in many of the Tasmanian estuaries on all sides of the State, as well as estuaries on King Island, Flinders Island and in the Furneaux group (Edgar et al., 1999). 
Nesogobius sp. 2 is also common on sand patches near seagrasses, in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria (Kuiter, 1996a).
 

Notes on the Biology

Threadfin Sand Goby grows to around 6cm (Hoese and Larson, in Gomon et al., 1994).
Members of the family are typically nest spawners, with males guarding the eggs (Hoese, 1998).
 

Vulnerable Characteristics of the Species, and Threatening Processes

Gobies are benthic nest spawners and egg guarders, characteristics that increases their vulnerability to site-specific impacts.
Threadfin Sand Goby occurs in sandy habitats on the shallow continental shelf, and populations in some areas may be subject to site-specific impacts, such as benthic trawling (a process from which many of the known specimens have been found). 
 

Research Requirements

Compared with reef and seagrass studies, there are few targeted surveys of benthic fauna in shallow sand habitats of the continental shelf. Such surveys may help to increase the level of knowledge regarding sand-dwelling goby species such as Threadfin 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 sand and seagrass habitats in South Australia.