Mahidolia mystacina, the Flagfin Prawn Goby, is a species

Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

 of fish in the Gobiidae family

Family (biology)

In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...

.

Description

Mahidol mystacina,the Flagfin Prawn Goby or the Flagfin Shrimp Goby or Mahidol Smiling Goby fins have both rays and spines. The dorsal fin

Dorsal fin

A dorsal fin is a fin located on the backs of various unrelated marine and freshwater vertebrates, including most fishes, marine mammals , and the ichthyosaurs...

 has 7 spines and 10 soft rays. The anal fin has a single spine and 9 soft rays. Its head has blue or brown spots, while its body has 5-6 dark irregular crossbars. Males have an elongate first dorsal fin and elongate jaws.

Mahidol mystacina (Mahidol Smiling Goby) reaches 8 centimetres (3.1 in) in length, unsexed;

It uses the burrow of a mottled brown alpheid shrimp with two or more short white saddles or spots.

Range and habitat

This fish inhabits reefs in brackish and marine conditions, and silty coastal bays and estuaries. and freshwater tidal zone habitats It roams coastal sand and mud habitats from shallow estuaries to moderate depths on slopes.

Mahidol mystacina (Mahidol Smiling Goby)which was discovered in 1932 in Laemsing ,Chantaburi.this goby also has a notable history,and name point to an immedite connection with Mahidol university.Mahidol mystacina (Mahidol Smiling Goby)was first recorded by Dr.Huge McCormick Smith ,who gabve it the scientific name "Mahidol mystacina" in acknowledgement of Admiral of the Fleet H.R.H.Price Mahidol of Songkla.
It prefers depths of 5–20 m (16.4–65.6 ft), in tropical waters, from 32°N to 20°S.

Specifically, it has been sighted on the muddy bottom at the base of the reef at Toguan Bay, Guam

Guam

Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...

 and from East Africa south to Delagoa Bay, Mozambique

Mozambique

Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...

. and east to the Society Islands, north to southern Japan (?), south to northern Australia and Samoa.

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