Common name: Dwarf pygmy goby

Scientific name with author: Pandaka pygmaea

Meaning and scientific name: not available

Description: The dwarf pygmy goby has an elongated and robust body that is nearly transparent. It does have dark spots that form cross bands over the side of its body. Its head is large and blunt and is characteristically larger and deep and is short, broad, and rounded, and the head and nape are naked. The chin and lower jaw project out from the oblique mouth. The females appear larger than the males and their dorsal profiles are slightly curved, ventral outline strongly arched, and the underneath is protuberant. The males however, have very straight dorsal and ventral profiles. The anal papilla is long and skinny in males and short and rounded in females. The goby has two rows of teeth in each jaw. The inner row of teeth is very small but the outer row is more widely spaced and much larger than the inner row of the upper jaw. The first dorsal fin is closer to the head of the fish but almost extends to the second fin. The ventral fin is longer than the pectoral, and both are pointed. The base of all fins except the ventral are heavily pigmented. This fish generally has twenty two to twenty five scales in longitudinally. Interestingly, this fish is arguably one of the smallest fish by weight and size found in the entire world. It is nearing extinction in the Phillipines due to the local land projects and heavily polluted waters.

Habitats and habits: The dwarf pygmy goby is found primarily in shady river banks around the Phillipines. It thrives in brackish waters along Indonesia and Syngapore and it was imported to Germany years ago. It is only found in tropical freshwater conditions. It feeds primarily on plankton.

Breeding: The goby is an oviparous breeder, which means that the embryos do not form inside of the female.

Range: It is found in tropical freshwaters with temperatures that range between twenty four to thirty degrees celcius.