Gobies have the pelvic fins fused creating a circular suction-cup.  This is used to cling firmly to hard surfaces to avoid being washed away by surge or climb up streambeds and waterfalls in the case of a few freshwater species.  Eggs of freshwater gobies are washed into the ocean to hatch before returning to any stream soon afterward.  Sleepers are very similar to gobies but lack fused pelvic fins.  

Kaupo tidepool, Oahu

Juvenile, Kaupo tidepool, Oahu

Juvenile, Kaupo tidepool, Oahu

Kaupo tidepool, Oahu

Juvenile, Moku o Loe, Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, 2 feet

Common in tidepools.  Voracious carnivores of the intertidal zone.  Has 15-20 predorsal scales nearly reaching eye.  About 4.5 inches.  Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific.

Kaunolu Bay tidepool, Lana'i

Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu

Kapoho Point, Kailua, Oahu

Common in tidepools and shallow rocky reefs.  Voracious carnivores of the intertidal zone.  Has 10-12 predorsal scales nearly reaching upper edge of preopercle.  About 3 inches.  Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific.

Male, Portlock tidepool, Oahu

Female, Portlock tidepool, Oahu

Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, 3 feet

Moku O Loe, Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, 3 feet

Female, Moku O Loe, Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, 3 feet

Haleiwa Trench, Oahu, 50 feet

Abundant in shallow water.  Base color variable with tiny blue dots.  Up to 2.5 inches.  Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific.  

Kewalo, Oahu, 40 feet

Juvenile, Kewalo, Oahu, 40 feet

Normally found on gorgonians.  Hawaiian fish are rare on Stichopathes wire corals and oceanographic gear at scuba depths.  About 2 inches.  Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific.

Haleiwa Harbor, Oahu, 25 feet

Wakatobi, Indonesia, 130 feet

Portlock, Oahu, 30 feet

Juvenile, Hawaii Kai, Oahu

Frequent on wire corals.  Clear with several red triangular markings.  Up to 1.5 inches.  Lays eggs on a section of coral where polyps were removed.  Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific.

Puako, Hawaii, 50 feet

Puako, Hawaii, 30 feet

Puako, Hawaii, 30 feet

Uncommon on Porites corals, mostly along the Kona coast of Hawaii.  Clear with alternating brown and white dashes.  About 1 inch.  Seychelles to Okinawa, Hawaii, and Tahiti.

Puako, Hawaii, 25 feet

Juvenile, Firehouse, Oahu, 35 feet

Haleiwa Trench, Oahu, 50 feet

Fairly common on sandy patches on reefs at scuba depths.  Semi-transparent body with pointed head.  About 2 inches.  Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific.

Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, 3 feet

Moku O Loe, Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, 3 feet

Wailupe, Oahu, 3 feet

Common on silty sand in shallow water and reefs.  Thin vertical line below the eye.  Up to 4 inches.  Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific.

Three Tables, Oahu, 50 feet

Makua, Oahu, 30 feet

Makua, Oahu, 30 feet

Uncommon in sand patches at scuba depths.  About 2 inches.  Hawaii, Indo-Pacific and Western Atlantic.

He'eia, Oahu, 3 feet

Hawaii's endemic shrimp-goby.  Inhabits a burrow in silty sand with the blind shrimp, Alpheus rapax, acting as lookout and defender.  About 2 inches.

Midway Harbor, 10 feet

Mai'li Point tidepool, Oahu

Abundant on reefs but rarely seen due to secretive nature and small size.  Less than an inch long.  Japan to Hawaii and the Line Islands.

Puako, Hawaii, 20 feet

Shy but fairly common in crevices at scuba depths.  Attains 2 inches.  Hawaii, Johnston Island, Pohnpei.

Cargo Pier, Midway Atoll, 20 feet

A tiny and rarely seen inhabitant of reefs.  Greenish gray with fine blue vertical lines on the head.  About 1 inch.  Endemic to Hawaii and Johnston Island. 

Firehouse, Oahu, 40 feet

Puako, Hawaii, 20 feet

Firehouse, Oahu, 40 feet

Puako, Hawaii, 20 feet

Firehouse, Oahu, 40 feet

Sharks Cove, Oahu, 30 feet

Sharks Cove, Oahu, 30 feet

Puako, Hawaii, 20 feet

DLNR Aquarium

Fairly common in lower reaches of streams.  Large tapering head and dark spot on caudal peduncle.  Reaches at least 10 inches.  Eaten by native Hawaiians.

Hauula, Oahu

Common in lower reaches of streams.  Head is flattened on top, color varies.  Reaches 4 inches.  Endemic to Hawaii.

Female, DLNR Aquarium

Male, DLNR Aquarium

Nuptial male, DLNR Aquarium

Rare and endangered in the upper reaches of pristine streams, able to scale waterfalls.  A slender species, males display black and orange pattern during spawning season.  Reaches 4 inches.  Endemic to Hawaii.

Hau'ula, Oahu

Locally common in lower reaches of streams.  Broad dark bar below the eye usually present.  Reaches 4 inches.  Endemic to Hawaii.

Wakatobi, Indonesia, 60 feet

Found as pairs on sandy rubble at scuba depths in calm water.  Attains 10 inches.  Indo-Pacific except Hawaii.

Wakatobi, Indonesia, 50 feet

Fairly common over rubble in clear water to at least 80 feet.  Attains 8 inches.  Indo-Pacific, except Hawaii.

Juvenile, Okinawa, 10 feet

Common in sandy holes at scuba depths.  Dorsal fin with black at tip and large orange spot below.  Attains 2.5 inches.  Okinawa to GBR, Caroline Islands, Tonga.

Wakatobi, Indonesia, 50 feet

Inhabits burrows with the commensal shrimp Alpheus on silty sand and rubble in shallow water.  A common species.  Attains 3.5 inches.  East Africa to Okinawa & Samoa.

Dumaguete, Philippines

Inhabits burrows with the commensal shrimp Alpheus.  Attains 4 inches.  Okinawa to GBR, Micronesia & Samoa.

Dumaguete, Phillipines

Wakatobi, Indonesia, 50 feet

Inhabits burrows with the commensal shrimp Alpheus under ledges along dropoffs in deeper water.  Attains 4.5 inches.  Indonesia to Okinawa, GBR, and Fiji.

Dumaguete, Philippines

Inhabits burrows with the commensal shrimp Alpheus.  Narrow red bars with dots & lines between.  Attains 4.5 inches.  Indonesia to New Caledonia.

Wakatobi, Indonesia, 50 feet

Inhabits burrows with the commensal shrimp Alpheus.  Broad diffuse brown bars without marks between.  Attains 2.5 inches.  Mauritius to Okinawa, Micronesia & Samoa.

Wakatobi, Indonesia, 50 feet

Inhabits burrows with the commensal shrimp Alpheus.  Common.  Attains 3.5 inches.  Red Sea to Okinawa, GBR, Micronesia, and New Caledonia.  Formerly known as A. wheeleri.

Waikiki Aquarium

Uncommon in dark holes at scuba depths.  Attains 2 inches.  Indonesia to Japan, GBR, and Tonga.

Waikiki Aquarium

 Attains 2 inches.  Scattered localities from the Seychelles to the Marquesas Islands. 

Cabo Pulmo, Baja California, 35 feet

Cabo Pulmo, Baja California, 35 feet

Common on reefs from Central Baja California to Central Mexico.  About 2 inches long.  Cleans parasites from other fishes.

Cabo Pulmo, Baja California, 35 feet

Common on reefs from Central Baja California to Colombia.  About 2 inches long.  May clean parasites from other fishes.

Long Beach Harbor, California, 2 feet

Rock Quarry, Catalina, California, 25 feet

Abundant on rocky reefs at scuba depths.  About 2 inches long.  From Monterey to Panama.

Long Point, Catalina, California, 25 feet

Occasional in caverns and dark holes at scuba depths.  About 2 inches long and skittish.  From Carmel south to the Revillagigedos Islands.

Long Point, Catalina, California, 25 feet

Rock Quarry, Catalina, California, 25 feet

Common on rocky reefs at any depth.  Attains 6 inches.  British Columbia to Central Baja California.

Text and photographs are copyrighted property of Keoki and Yuko Stender unless otherwise indicated.  No part of this website may be used without permission of the authors.  Images may not be used for any purpose without express permission of the photographers.