Mahidolia mystacina information

Mahidolia mystacina
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Gobiiformes
Family:	Gobiidae
Genus:	Mahidolia H. M. Smith, 1932
Species:	M. mystacina
Binomial name
Mahidolia mystacina (Valenciennes, 1837)
Synonyms
Genus Rictugobius Koumans, 1932 Species Gobius mystacinus Valenciennes, 1837 Waitea mystacina (Valenciennes, 1837) Gobius pulverulentus Kuhl & van Hasselt, 1837 Mahidiolia normani H. M. Smith & Koumans, 1932 Mahidiolia duque J. L. B. Smith, 1947 Waitea buchanani Visweswara Rao, 1972

Mahidolia mystacina, the flagfin prawn goby,^[2] flagfin shrimpgoby^[2] or smiling goby,^[2] is a species of goby native to the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean from Delagoa Bay, Mozambique to the Society Islands and from southern Japan to Samoa and northern Australia. This species occurs in marine and brackish waters, being found in coastal bays, estuaries and reef bases where the bottom is silty or muddy at depths of from 5 to 25 metres (16 to 82 ft). This species is a commensal with a species of alpheid shrimp, using its burrow as its home. This species can reach a length of 8 centimetres (3.1 in) TL. This species can also be found in the aquarium trade. It is currently the only known member of its genus.^[2]

Its genus name Mahidolia is named in honour of Mahidol Adulyadej, Prince of Songkla who was the father of King Ananda Mahidol (Rama VIII) and King Bhumibol (Rama IX), as a supporter of fisheries in Siam (today's Thailand). It was first discovered at the mouth of the Chanthaburi River, Amphoe Laem Sing, Chanthaburi Province, Eastern Thailand by H. M. Smith.^[3]