Scaleless Goby

Interesting Info

• The Scaleless Goby is a small, bottom-dwelling goby found only in a few rainforest streams of northern Queensland, making it a true Australian endemic.
• As its name suggests, it is completely scaleless, unlike most fish, which gives it a smooth, almost transparent appearance.
• Its colouration is mottled brown, grey, and tan, blending perfectly with sand and pebbles — an excellent camouflage for avoiding predators.
• Males can be recognised by elongated rays in their fins and sometimes show darker, bolder markings when defending small territories.
• This species is amphidromous: eggs hatch in freshwater streams, the larvae drift downstream into the ocean, and juveniles later migrate back upstream to complete their life cycle.
• They are primarily benthic feeders, picking at small aquatic invertebrates such as insect larvae and crustaceans from the substrate.
• Scaleless Gobies prefer shallow, clear streams with sandy and gravelly beds, often in shaded rainforest catchments.
• Breeding likely occurs in the wet season, with eggs laid under stones or buried in gravel, guarded by males until hatching.
• They are likely nocturnal/crepuscular, feeding mostly at night or twilight.
• The species was named in honour of Dr. Doug Hoese, an Australian ichthyologist known for his major contributions to goby taxonomy.
• The lifespan is thought to be short, about 1–2 years, which is typical for small tropical gobies.