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Phylum Chordata > Subphylum Vertebrate > fishes > Family Gobiidae
Mangrove bumblebee goby
Brachygobius kabiliensis
Family Gobiidae
updated Sep 2020

Where seen? This tiny banded goby is commonly seen in our mangroves, in pools at low tide. This goby is different from the Bumblebee goby (Brachygobius doriae) in the aquarium trade. Elsewhere, it is found in fresh and brackish water including in mangroves.

Features: Tiny, about 1.5cm long. With black and yellowish bands along its body, it does indeed resemble a bumble bee. There is often a black heart-shaped blotch on the head just behind the eyes!

What does it eat? It feeds on tiny animals (zooplankton).

Mandai mangroves, Feb 13

Admiralty Park, Aug 11

Mangrove bumblebee gobies on Singapore shores
On wildsingapore flickr

Other sightings on Singapore shores

Links

References

  • Tan Heok Hui, Low Bi Wei & Jonathan Ho. 11 July 2014. Lesser bumblebee goby in Upper Seletar Reservoir, Brachygobius sabanus. Singapore Biodiversity Records 2014: 185.
  • Larson, Helen K and Kelvin K. P. Lim. 2005. A Guide to Gobies of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre. 164pp.
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