Gobies

Gobies, belonging to the suborder Gobidioidei, are small fish that usually live off the coast in tropical and warm temperate regions. They spend the majority of their time resting on the bottom near protective cracks in coral reefs or burrows in the sand. Most species of this fish have fused pelvic fins which form a suction cup on their undersides. A goby uses this suction cup to cling to rocks so that it does not wash away with ocean currents.

The suborder of Gobidioidei is divided into six families. The largest family in the suborder, and indeed the largest family of all tropical fishes, is the Gobiidae. Although the count is not complete, there are approximately 212 genera and 1,900 species within the Gobiidae family worldwide; at least 500 of these species live in the Indo-Pacific Ocean. Within the Gobidioidei family, two subfamilies are distinguished: the Sleepers (Eleotrinae) and the True Gobies (Gobiinae).