Mangrove Associate Gobies (Teleostei : Gobioidei) of Indian Sundarbans

The gobioid fishes are distributed throughout the temperate and tropical zones of the world. They occur in fresh to hyper saline waters, in mud, sand as well as reef habitats. Some species have a very wide distribution, while a few are markedly localized. Most species are cryptic bottom dwelling carnivores that usually feed on small benthic invertebrates. Abundance in number of species, intraspecific morphological diversity and interesting habitat, behaviour and adaptations make them a subject of great biological importance. Most of the gobioid fishes found in the Sundarbans are mangrove associates, particularly the mudskippers are characteristic of any mangrove habitat.