Actinopterygii (Gigaclass) > Actinopteri (Class) > Teleostei (Subclass) > Gobiiformes (Order) > Gobioidei (Suborder) > Gobiidae (Family) > Gobiinae (Subfamily) > Macrodontogobius (Genus)

Gobie à grandes dents, Big-toothed goby, Largetooth goby, Largetooth sandgoby, Wilbur's goby, Madarahaze, マダラハゼ, 威氏壮牙鰕虎鱼,

Synonymes
Acentrogobius hendersoni (Herre, 1936)
Gnatholepis hendersoni (Herre, 1936)
Gnatholepis hololepis (Schultz, 1943)

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Description
Dorsal spines (total): 6; Second dorsal (total): 1 spine, 10 rays; Anal spine: 1; Anal soft rays: 9-10 (usually: 9); Pectoral fin rays: 15-17; Scales in longitudinal series: 27-31; Predorsal scales: 7 or fewer, extending to interorbital space; Scales large and ctenoid, except cycloid scales on isthmus; Opercle entirely scaly, and cheek with 3 rows of scales; Transverse rows of scales backwards: 6-7; Body depth: 4.5-6.3 in SL; Head depth: 5.5-6.0 in SL; Least depth of caudal peduncle: 7.7-9.8 in SL; Large recurved canine tooth present at bend in dentary; Maxilla ending below anterior half of eye; Gill opening extending slightly below pectoral fin base; No dorsal spines elongate; Pelvic fin disc reaching origin of anal fin; Pelvic frenum well developed; Caudal fin rounded: 3.45-3.85 in SL. Head and anterior part of body cyclindrical, body compressed posteriorly. Eyes large. Snout slightly overhanging tips of jaws; Mouth subterminal, reaching to under front of eyes. Teeth small and conical, tightly packed in 4-5 rows in each jaw; Teeth of outermost row largest, and most specimens with one large recurved canine tooth at bend of lower jaw. Sensory papillae on head in transverse pattern. Gill opening restricted to below opercle; Isthmus broad. Max. length: 5.5 cm SL. Depth range: 0 - 30 m, usually: 1 - 10 m.

Color
Head and body whitish to yellow-brown, with 5 dark brown rounded to elongate blotches along midsides of body, posteriormost blotch darkest (may be black); Many fine pale brown to yellowish brown spots and speckles, mostly on dorsal half of body; Nebulous blackish blotch on cheek below eye (most distinct markings on head); Pelvic fins whitish, and sometimes with blackish barring. Pigment intensity variable among localities.

Etymology
Macrodontogobius: from Greek, makros = a combining form meaning large, long, great, excessive + from Greek, odous = teeth + from Latin, gobius = gudgeon. The genus having two enormous solid incisors side by side on the vomer, extending clear across the roof of the mouth.
wilburi: I take pleasure in naming this species after Dr. Ray Lyman Wilbur, whose support made it possible for me to visit the Pelews. Ray Lyman Wilbur (1875–1949) was an American medical doctor who served as the third president of Stanford University and was the 31st United States Secretary of the Interior.
Original description: Macrodontogobius wilburi Herre, 1936 - Type locality: Gorror Reef, Pelew Islands. Now the Republic of Palau.

Distribution
Red Sea; Indo-West Pacific: Seychelles, Madagascar and Maldives, east to Line Islands and Samoa Islands, north to Ryukyu Islands (Japan), south to northern Australia, New Caledonia and Lord Howe Island (Australia).

Biology
Inhabits coastal bays, lagoons and estuaries on fine sand along reef margins. Solitary.

Similar species
Ancistrogobius yanoi (Shibukawa, Yoshino & Allen, 2010) - Reported from Red Sea; Indo-West Pacific: Indonesia, east to Caroline Islands and New Ireland (Papua New Guinea), south to Solomon Islands.