Halfbarred Goby

Amblygobius semicinctus

The Halfbarred goby is a small fish that can grow up to 11 cm long. It has a greenish-brown body with a complex pattern of red-brown lines running along its length and spots on its head. Notable features include several vertical black bars on its body, a dark stripe running from the snout through the eye, and dark spots on the dorsal and caudal fins, which help in distinguishing it from other species. This species is found in the western Indian Ocean, ranging from the Maldives to the eastern coast of Africa. It favors sandy substrates in sheltered, shallow lagoons and bays, where it typically lives in pairs within burrows dug beneath rocks or coral. The Halfbarred goby is commonly observed at depths between 1 and 20 meters. As an omnivore, the Halfbarred goby feeds by sifting through sand to find algae, invertebrates, and other organic materials. Its diet includes filamentous algae, copepods, polychaetes, and small crustaceans. The species is monogamous, often seen hovering near its burrow with its mate. According to the IUCN, its conservation status is Least Concern.