Yellow Pygmy Goby

Lubricogobius exiguus

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Gobiiformes
Family: Gobiidae
Genus: Lubricogobius
Species: Lubricogobius exiguus

The yellow pygmy goby (Lubricogobius exiguus) is a tiny, bright yellow goby that often makes its home inside empty bottles, cans and shells on sandy bottoms. Its smooth, scaleless body and round head make it look like a little yellow bean.

It grows to only about 2-3 cm. Pairs live together in their shelter, peeking out from the opening and darting back inside when approached. They feed on tiny plankton and lay their eggs on the inside walls of their home.

The yellow pygmy goby occurs in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is a favourite subject on muck dives among discarded bottles and debris.

Photo: Kai Squires, CC BY 4.0, via iNaturalist