Invasion History

First Non-native North American Tidal Record: 1960
First Non-native West Coast Tidal Record: 1960
First Non-native East/Gulf Coast Tidal Record:

General Invasion History:

Tridentiger trigonocephalus (Chameleon Goby) is native to the northwest Pacific from Gwangzhou in southern China to the Amur River and Peter the Great Bay (Lever 1996; Froese and Pauly 2018). It is rare at salinities below 22 PSU (Fuller et al. 1999), but has been collected at 16 PSU (California Academy of Sciences 2009). North American introductions of T. trigonocephalus are limited to California, but it has also been introduced to Australia and Ukraine and Mediterranean Sea.

North American Invasion History:

Invasion History on the West Coast:

The first collection of Chameleon Goby, Tridentiger trigonocephalus, in North America was from in Los Angeles Harbor in 1960, where it is established (Haaker 1979). A couple years later in 1962, a specimen was caught in Redwood City harbor. It was later collected in relatively saline parts of San Francisco Bay, including Lake Merritt, Berkeley, and the Alviso Salt Ponds, on the South Bay (Cohen and Carlton 1995; California Academy of Science 2014; Mejia et al. 2008). Between 1978 and 1992 specimens were collected along the coast of southern California from Ventura to Laguna (USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Program 2014), and a few have been found in San Diego Bay (Pondella and Chin 2005). Many of these fish were found among piers, riprap, and discarded bottles. This fish appears to be established in San Diego Bay, but is rare (Williams et al 2016). It has been collected in the brackish Napa River at a salinity of 16 PSU (2001, California Academy of Sciences 2009). Most of the early reports of the Chameleon Goby's occurrence in the upper San Francisco estuary probably refer to the similar T. bifasciatus, which is more of a freshwater species (Matern and Fleming 1995).

Invasion History Elsewhere in the World:

In 1973 a specimen of Tridentiger trigonocephalus was collected in Sydney Harbour, New South Wales (Hoese 1973), where they are established. In 1977 they were found in Port Philip Bay, Victoria and from the Swan River Estuary, Western Australia in 1976 (Lockett and Gomon 1999). In Australia this goby is most common on hard bottoms in commercial port areas and can reach densities of 10-20 fish per 10 m-2 (Lockett and Gomon 2001).

In 2006, a single specimen of T. trigonocephalus was collected in Sevastopol Bay, Ukraine, on the Black Sea (Boltachev et al. 2007). That same year, 2006, one specimen was collected in the Mediterranean Sea (Goren et al. 2009). In 2008, 17 individuals with eggs and nests were found in Sevastopol Bay, indicating an established population (Boltachev and Karpova 2010). Ballast water is the likeliest vector for the Australian populations and the Israeli occurrence (Lockett and Gomon 2001; Goren et al. 2009). However, ballast water discharges from the Pacific are rare in Sevastopol Bay, while Pacific Oyster transplants (Crassostrea gigas) occurred outside the Bay. An unauthorized aquarium release could have been the source of the Sevastopol population Boltachev and Karpova 2010).


Description

Tridentiger trigonocephalus (Chameleon Goby; Striped Goby) is a coastal marine fish. It has the typical features of the family Gobiidae, including the two pelvic fins united to form a conical sucking disk, a spiny anterior and a soft posterior dorsal fin, and eyes near the top of the head. The dorsal fins have 6-7 spines and 11-14 rays, respectively, which are separated by a gap. The uppermost ray of each pectoral fin is free and covered with conical projections. The lateral line is not noticeable. This is a relatively fat goby with a wide flat head. There are large sensory canal pores on the top of the head in the interorbital region (Matern and Fleming 1995). Colors are highly variable, but there is usually a black spot at the upper base of the caudal fin and a dark bar followed by a clear area at the base of the caudal fin. This fish usually has two broad dark-brown stripes from head to tail on a yellowish-gray background but can also be a marbled pattern made up of vertical bars. While guarding eggs, males become predominantly black (Boltachev and Karpova 2010). There are large, white speckles on the head, which do not extend to the ventral surface. The dorsal and anal fins are edged with white (Matern and Fleming 1995). This fish reaches a maximum length of 110 mm (Miller and Lea 1972; Eschmeyer et al. 1983; Froese and Pauly 2018).


Taxonomy

Taxonomic Tree

Kingdom:   Animalia
Phylum:   Chordata
Subphylum:   Vertebrata
Superclass:   Osteichthyes
Class:   Actinopterygii
Subclass:   Neopterygii
Infraclass:   Teleostei
Superorder:   Acanthopterygii
Order:   Perciformes
Suborder:   Gobioidei
Family:   Gobiidae
Genus:   Tridentiger
Species:   trigonocephalus

Synonyms

Triaenophorus trigonocephalus (Gill, 1859)
(None, None)

Potentially Misidentified Species

Tridentiger barbatus
Tridentiger barbatus (Shokihaze Goby) is marked by conspicuous barbels around the snout. It ranges into brackish and tidal fresh waters (Froese and Pauly 2018).

Tridentiger bifasciatus
Tridentiger bifasciatus (Shimofuri Goby) was formerly considered conspecific with T. trigonocephalus. It differs in patterns of coloration, the size of sensory canals on the head, and the structure of pectoral fin rays. The Shimofuri Goby does not tolerate marine salinities (Matern and Fleming 1995).

Ecology

General:

Tridentiger trigonocephalus (Chameleon Goby) is a coastal marine fish. Males are territorial and guard nests in oyster or mussel shells. Females can spawn up to 10 times in a summer. Eggs hatch in 7-10 days and are guarded by the male. The planktonic larvae are about 3 mm long. The fish grow to 35-50 mm in their first year and spawn in their second year when they are 55-75 mm long. Fish larger than this 75mm are rare (Hirose and Kubo 1983, cited by Lockett and Gomon (1999), however, some specimens can reach 110 mm (Froese and Pauly 2018). Females on the south coast of South Korea had fecundities of 3,448 to 9,654 eggs over a size range of 40-60 mm (Hwang and Baek 2013).

Tridentiger trigonocephalus (Chameleon Goby) ranges from cold-temperate to tropical climates in coastal marine waters (Froese and Pauly 2018). It has been collected at salinities as low as 15 PSU (Boltachev et al. 2007). Records of this fish from more brackish or fresh water probably refer to the similar species T. bifasciatus (Shimofuri Goby), formerly considered synonymous (Matern and Fleming 1995). Habitats include piers, bridge pilings, riprap, discarded bottles, and rocky coasts (Haaker 1979; Lockett and Gomon 1999; Boltachev and Karpova 2010). Food of T. trigonocephalus was mainly amphipods, but also copepods, polychaetes, and shrimps (Ye et al. 2014, Ye et al identified this fish as T. bifasciatus but it was from a marine habitat). Tridentiger trigonocephalus was an occasional prey item of Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina richardii) in San Francisco Bay (Gibble and Harvey 2015).

Food:

Amphipods, copepods, polychaetes, shrimps

Consumers:

Larger fishes, Harbor Seals

Competitors:

Acanthogobius flavimanus

Trophic Status:

Carnivore

Carn

Habitats

General HabitatMarinas & DocksNone
General HabitatCoarse Woody DebrisNone
General HabitatRockyNone
General HabitatOyster ReefNone
Salinity RangeMesohaline5-18 PSU
Salinity RangePolyhaline18-30 PSU
Salinity RangeEuhaline30-40 PSU
Tidal RangeSubtidalNone
Vertical HabitatNektonicNone
Vertical HabitatEpibenthicNone

Life History


Tolerances and Life History Parameters

Minimum Temperature (ºC)5Australia? NIMPIS 2018
Maximum Temperature (ºC)35Australia? NIMPIS 2018
Minimum Salinity (‰)15Field, Sevastopol, Ukraine, Sevastopol Gulf (Boltachev et al. 2009); Field, 16 PSU, in Napa River, California (California Academy of Sciences 2009). Rare at salinities below 22 PSU (Fuller et al. 1999). Records before ~ 1994 from oligohaline and fresh waters refer to T. bifasciatus (Fuller et al. 1999).
Maximum Salinity (‰)36.8San Diego Bay (Pondella and Chinn 2005).
Minimum Reproductive Temperature18Hirose and Kubo 1983, cited by NIMPIS 2018
Maximum Reproductive Temperature26Hirose and Kubo 1983, cited by NIMPIS 2018
Minimum Length (mm)40Minimum size at spawning, females (Hwang and Baek 2013).
Maximum Length (mm)110Froese and Pauly 2014
Broad Temperature RangeNoneCold temperate-Warm temperate
Broad Salinity RangeNoneMesohaline-Euhaline

General Impacts

No impacts have been reported for Tridentiger trigonocephalus in its introduced habitats. In Australia, its range in estuaries is restricted to harbor areas (Lockwood and Gomon 2001).


Regional Distribution Map

Bioregion Region Name Year Invasion Status Population Status
P058 _CDA_P058 (San Pedro Channel Islands) 2019 Non-native Established
P020 San Diego Bay 1995 Non-native Unknown
P064 _CDA_P064 (Ventura) 1982 Non-native Established
P056 _CDA_P056 (Los Angeles) 1980 Non-native Established
P060 Santa Monica Bay 1980 Non-native Established
P027 _CDA_P027 (Aliso-San Onofre) 1978 Non-native Established
NEP-V Northern California to Mid Channel Islands 1962 Non-native Established
P090 San Francisco Bay 1962 Non-native Established
P050 San Pedro Bay 1960 Non-native Established
NEP-VI Pt. Conception to Southern Baja California 1960 Non-native Established

Occurrence Map

OCC_ID Author Year Date Locality Status Latitude Longitude
697956 Haaker 1979; FishNet2 Database 2018 1977 1977-05-24 Berth 228 (Slips D and E), Los Angeles Harbor Non-native 33.7467 -118.2712
697957 Hubbs and Miller 1965; J.H. Prescott (New England Aquarium), pers. comm., in Haaker 1979 1960 1960-06-01 Fish Harbor (Los Angeles Harbor) Non-native 33.7363 -118.2674
698001 Cohen et al. 2005 (SF Bay Area RAS) 2004 2004-05-24 Fruitvale Bridge, San Francisco Bay Non-native 37.7690 -122.2296
699329 Introduced Species Study 2010 2010-07-15 San Pablo Bay Pumphouse Non-native 38.0446 -122.4326
702977 Cohen et al. 2005 (SF Bay Area RAS) 2004 2004-05-25 Petaluma River Turning Basin, San Pablo Bay Non-native 38.2355 -122.6382
704453 Matern and Fleming 1995; FishNet2Database 2018 1962 1962-06-28 Redwood Creek, at Redwood City Dock Non-native 37.5032 -122.2146
761856 Cohen and Chapman 2005 2005 2005-11-27 Dumbarton Bridge (pylon) Non-native 37.5031 -122.1230
761857 FishNet2Database 2018 1967 1967-05-18 Redwood City Marina Non-native 37.5022 -122.2128
761858 Haaker 1979 1977 1977-09-22 Berth 228 (Slips D and E), Los Angeles Harbor Non-native 33.7467 -118.2712
761859 Allen et al. 2002; Pondella and Chinn, 2005; Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Marine Vertebrate 1995 Station 3, San Diego Bay Non-native 32.6514 -117.1417
761860 Pondella and Chinn 2005 1998 1998-01-06 North Island (San Diego Bay) Non-native 32.7042 -117.2245
761861 FishNet2Database 2018 1975 1975-07-23 Berkeley Aquatic Park Non-native 37.8567 -122.2992
761862 FishNet2Database 2018 1978 1978-10-20 Laguna [sic] (off South Laguna Beach) Non-native 33.5067 -117.7567
761863 FishNet2Database 2018 1982 1982-10-27 Ormond Beach [offshore?] Non-native 34.1000 -119.2133
761864 FishNet2Database 2018 1979 1979-09-21 Redondo Beach [offshore of] Non-native 33.8500 -118.4083
761865 FishNet2Database 2018 1979 1979-09-21 Redondo Beach [sic] (offshore of Hermosa Beach) Non-native 33.8650 -118.4367
761866 FishNet2Database 2018 1979 1979-10-18 Redondo Beach [offshore of] Non-native 33.8500 -118.4083
761867 FishNet2Database 2018 1980 1980-04-17 Redondo Beach [offshore of] Non-native 33.8500 -118.4083
761868 FishNet2Database 2018 1980 1980-04-16 Palos Verdes [offshore of ] Non-native 33.7500 -118.4200
761869 FishNet2Database 2018 2001 2001-11-19 Napa Valley Marina Non-native 38.2214 -122.3142
761870 FishNet2Database 2018 2001 2001-06-05 South San Francisco Bay, off Ravenswood Point Non-native 37.5144 -122.1283
761871 FishNet2Database 2018 2007 2007-04-29 Oakland Inner Harbor at Estuary Park Non-native 37.7890 -122.2669
761872 FishNet2Database 2018 1963 1963-10-30 Lake Merritt Non-native 37.8046 -122.2569
761873 FishNet2Database 2018 1963 1963-01-01 Lake Merritt Non-native 37.8046 -122.2569
761874 FishNet2Database 2018 1967 1967-08-12 Berkeley Aquatic Park Non-native 37.8590 -122.3002
761875 FishNet2Database 2018 1967 1967-07-30 Lake Merritt, Survey Station C Non-native 37.8046 -122.2569
761876 FishNet2Database 2018 1971 1971-10-13 Southampton Shoal, at SS2 Buoy Non-native 37.8819 -122.4002
761877 FishNet2Database 2018 2002 2002-09-18 Port of Sonoma, Outer Marina Non-native 38.1156 -122.5026
761878 California Academy of Sciences Ichthyology Collection Database 2018 1963 Redwood City Slough Non-native 37.5162 -122.2010
761879 FishNet2Database 2018 2001 2001-06-04 Central San Francisco Bay Non-native 37.8595 -122.3884

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