Indonesia is known as one of the countries with the highest diversity of ornamental fish species globally. Some fish species have been successfully cultivated, but most are still obtained from natural catches. One of the interesting ornamental fish to study is the freshwater goby, Stiphodon surrufus . This species was first discovered by Watson and Kottelat in 1995 in the Philippines. This species belongs to the category of ampidromus where the life cycle undergoes a migration when adults are in freshwater when they lay eggs. Hatched larvae will go to the ocean and then return to freshwater as adults to breed.

At the end of 2020, a group of researchers from the Muhammadiyah University of Luwuk Banghai in collaboration with several other universities, including Universitas Airlangga, conducted a survey in Central Sulawesi, precisely in Banggai Regency. From the survey, several native species such as jungle perch and mullet were found, but non-native fish such as tilapia were also found in that location. And the most surprising finding at the location was S. surrufus. It indicates that the waters of Banggai Regency are one of the habitats for rare fish. Further research efforts and attention of the local government are needed to maintain the aquatic ecosystem of Banggai Regency to maintain its sustainability.

Author: Dr. Veryl Hasan, S.Pi., M.P

Journal link / reference : Ndobe S, Gani A, Bakri AA, Adriany DT, Wuniarto E, Khartiono LD, Herjayanto M, Hasan V, Moore AM (2022) First and recurrent records of Stiphodon surrufus Watson & Kottelat, 1995 (Gobiiformes, Gobiidae , Sicydiinae), a naturally rare amphidromous goby, in Sulawesi, Indonesia. Check List 18 (2): 253–260. https://doi.org/10.15560/18.2.253