Gobies
The blackeye goby (Rhinogobiops nicholsii)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Perciformes
Suborder:	Gobioidei
Family:	Gobiidae Regan, 1911
Subfamilies
See text.

The gobies form the family Gobiidae, which is one of the largest families of fish, with more than 2,000 species in more than 200 genera.^[1] Most are relatively small, typically less than 10 cm (4 in) in length. Gobies include some of the smallest vertebrates in the world, like species of the genera Trimmatom nanus and Pandaka pygmaea, which are under 1 cm (3/8 in) long when fully grown. There are some large gobies, such as some species of the genera Gobioides or Periophthalmodon, that can reach over 30 cm (1 ft) in length, but that is exceptional. Although few are important as food for humans, they are of great significance as prey species for commercially important fish like cod, haddock, sea bass, and flatfish. Several gobies are also of interest as aquarium fish, such as the bumblebee gobies of the genus Brachygobius.

Description[link]

Amblyopinae: Odontamblyopus lacepedii

Benthophilinae: the monkey goby (Neogobius fluviatilis) and the bighead goby (Ponticola kessleri)

Gobiinae: clown goby (Microgobius gulosus)

Gobionellinae: Tridentiger brevispinis

Oxudercinae: Atlantic mudskipper (Periophthalmus barbarus)

Sicydiinae: Sicyopterus stimpsoni

The most distinctive aspects of goby morphology are the fused pelvic fins that form a disc-shaped sucker. This sucker is functionally analogous to the dorsal fin sucker possessed by the remoras or the pelvic fin sucker of the lumpsuckers, but is anatomically distinct: these similarities are the product of convergent evolution. Gobies can often be seen using the sucker to adhere to rocks and corals, and in aquariums they will stick to glass walls of the tank, as well.

Subfamilies[link]

Gobiidae contains six subfamilies:

Amblyopinae[link]

Members of the subfamily Amblyopinae are elongated mud-dwelling gobies commonly known as the eel gobies or worm gobies. Their two dorsal fins are connected by a membranous structure and their eyes are highly reduced. They are usually pink, red, or purple in coloration. Amblyopinae contains 12 genera and about 23 species.^[2][3]

Benthophilinae[link]

Members of Benthophilinae are endemic to the Ponto-Caspian region (including the Marmara, Black, Azov, Caspian, and Aral seas).^[4] The representatives of the subfamily have fused pelvic fins and elongated dorsal and anal fins.^[5] They are distinguished from the closely related subfamily Gobiinae by the absence of a swimbladder in adults and location of the uppermost rays of the pectoral fins within the fin membrane.^[6] Its members include tadpole gobies, monkey gobies, and bighead gobies.

Gobiinae[link]

Members of Gobiinae are known as true gobies. It is the most widespread and most diverse of the subfamilies under Gobiidae, containing around 2000 species and 150 genera.

Gobionellinae[link]

Members of Gobionellinae mostly inhabit estuarine habitats, though some are freshwater. They are found in tropical and temperate regions around the world with the exception of the northeastern Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Ponto-Caspian region. It includes around 370 species and 55 genera.^[7]

Oxudercinae[link]

Members of Oxudercinae are commonly known as mudskippers. They are highly specialized members of the family. They are able to survive for extended periods on land through a combination of behavioral and physiological adaptations, including pectoral fins that act as simple legs; the ability to breathe through their skins (like frogs); and the digging of damp burrows to avoid drying out. Mudskippers live in tidal areas, particularly on mudflats and in mangrove forests, and are only found in tropical and subtropical regions.

Sicydiinae[link]

Sicydiinae is a small subfamily of freshwater gobies. It includes only nine genera.^[8] They are usually found in fast-moving mountain streams in tropical islands.^[9][10]

Ecology and biology[link]

Gobies are primarily fish of shallow marine habitats including tide pools, coral reefs, and seagrass meadows; they are also very numerous in brackish water and estuarine habitats, including the lower reaches of rivers, mangrove swamps, and salt marshes. A small number of gobies (unknown exactly, but in the low hundreds) are also fully adapted to freshwater environments. These include the Asian river gobies (Rhinogobius spp.), the Australian desert goby (Chlamydogobius eremius), and the European freshwater goby Padogobius bonelli. Most gobies feed on small invertebrates, although some of the larger species eat other fish, and a few eat planktic algae.

Reproduction[link]

Gobies attach their eggs to a substrate, such as vegetation, coral, or a rock surface. They can lay anywhere from five to a few hundred eggs, depending on species. After fertilizing the eggs, the male remains to guard them from predators and keep them free from detritus. The eggs hatch after a few days. The larvae are born transparent, developing their coloration after dispersing to find a suitable habitat. The larvae of many freshwater species are carried downstream to the brackish waters of estuaries, or even to the sea, and only return to fresh water weeks or months later.^[11]

Gobies in warmer waters reach adulthood in a matter of months, while those in cooler environments may take up to two years. The total lifespan of gobies varies from a single year to up to ten years, again with the temperate species generally living longer.^[11]

A few species of goby, such as the blackeye goby, are known to be able to change sex from female to male, although most do not do this. In such species, most individuals are born female, and the male must expend considerable effort in guarding the eggs of the multiple females with which he breeds.^[11]

Some marine gobies live in symbiosis with a shrimp.

Symbiosis[link]

Gobies sometimes form symbiotic relationships with other species.^[12] Some goby species live in symbiosis with burrowing shrimps. The shrimp maintains a burrow in the sand in which both the shrimp and the goby live. The shrimp has poor eyesight compared to the goby, but if it sees or feels the goby suddenly swim into the burrow, it will follow. The goby and shrimp keep in contact with each other, the shrimp using its antennae, and the goby flicking the shrimp with its tail when alarmed. These gobies are thus sometimes known as watchmen or prawn gobies. Each party gains from this relationship: the shrimp gets a warning of approaching danger, and the goby gets a safe home and a place to lay its eggs. Only the alpha male and female reproduce, other fish in colony eat sparingly to resist being eaten by the alpha male or female. This way only the largest and fittest are able to reproduce.^{[citation needed]}

Another example of symbiosis is demonstrated by the neon gobies (Elacatinus spp.). These gobies are known as "cleaner gobies", and remove parasites from the skin, fins, mouth, and gills of a wide variety of large fish. The most remarkable aspect of this symbiosis is that many of the fish that visit the gobies' cleaning stations would otherwise treat such small fish as food (for example, groupers and snapper^{[disambiguation needed ]}s). Again, this is a relationship where both parties gain: the gobies get a continual supply of food as bigger fish visit their cleaning stations, and the bigger fish leave the cleaning stations healthier than they were when they arrived.

Commercial importance[link]

Dried gobies for sale on the market in Odessa, Ukraine

Gobies have commercial importance in Ukraine. It is fished in the Sea of Azov, north-western Black Sea. Most important species are round goby, monkey goby, toad goby, and grass goby. The grass goby is also a commercial fish in Italy.

In aquariums[link]

Several species of gobies are kept in aquariums. ^[13] Most captive gobies are species from saltwater, and make excellent additions to healthy reef or fish-only aquariums. Perhaps the most popular is the small but colorful neon goby. Most gobies stay toward the lower portion of the aquarium, hiding in the rockwork, but some species (most notably the shrimp gobies) prefer to dig themselves little burrows. Potential keepers of these striking fish should provide them with a fine grained substrate to prevent damage to their delicate undersides.

Commonly kept saltwater species include the Randall's shrimp goby, and watchman goby. The bumblebee gobies from the genus Brachygobius are perhaps the most widely traded freshwater species, being small, colorful, and easy to care for. They need tropical, hard and alkaline freshwater or slightly brackish conditions to do well.

Gobies are generally peaceful towards their tankmates, though territorial among themselves. Since most are small and few are predatory toward other fishes, they usually make good community fishes. Typically, the main problem with gobies is feeding them: with a few exceptions, the small species kept in aquariums prefer live on frozen foods rather than flake, and they are not very good at competing with active species such as cichlids. Another problem is that it is very common for them to jump out of the tank so having a tight fitting lid is a must. It is often recommended that gobies be kept on their own or with peaceful surface dwelling species such as halfbeaks and guppies.

See also[link]

• Sleeper gobies are a closely related family (Eleotridae) that lack the fused pelvic fin sucker typical of most gobies, but are otherwise very similar in size, shape, and ecology.
• Blennies are a group of shallow water marine fish often confused with gobies.
• Dragonets are superficially similar to gobies and sometimes confused with them.
• Pholidichthys leucotaenia is commonly called the engineer goby or convict goby but is not a goby.

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Gobiidae

Wikispecies has information related to: Gobiidae

• Gobioid Research Institute
• Themudskipper.org: a website on mudskippers
• Mudskipper and goby page for aquarists
• Article on cleaner gobies in aquaria
• Brackish water aquarium FAQ entry on gobies

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Kaki King
King performing at the Adelaide International Guitar Festival in 2007
Background information
Birth name	Katherine Elizabeth King
Born	(1979-08-24) August 24, 1979 (age 32) Atlanta, Georgia United States
Genres	Instrumental music, post-rock, jazz, one man band, shoegaze
Occupations	Musician, composer
Instruments	Guitar, lap steel guitar, drums, piano, vocals
Years active	2001–present
Labels	Velour, Sony, Cooking Vinyl
Website	Official site
Notable instruments
Ovation Custom Adamas Acoustic Guitar

Kaki King (b. Katherine Elizabeth King, August 24, 1979 in Atlanta, Georgia) is an American guitarist and composer. King is known for her percussive and jazz-tinged melodies, energetic live shows,^[1] use of multiple tunings on acoustic and lap steel guitar,^[2] and her diverse range in different genres.

In February 2006, Rolling Stone released a list of "The New Guitar Gods," on which King was the sole woman and youngest artist (beating Derek Trucks in age by two months as the youngest on the list).^[3][4] In addition to a 10-year career that includes five LP and two EP albums, King has also scored music for television and film. She worked alongside Eddie Vedder and Michael Brook contributing music for the soundtrack to Sean Penn's Into the Wild, for which the trio received nominations for a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score.^[5]

Childhood and early life[link]

King was born the first of two daughters. While still a small child, her father noticed her natural musical ability, and encouraged her interest in music. She was introduced to the guitar at the age of four and played for several years, but after taking up the drums a few years later, they became her primary instruments as an adolescent.

Convinced that her break in music would come from drumming, King played in bands in high school with classmate Morgan Jahnig, who would later become the bassist of Old Crow Medicine Show. On graduating from The Westminster Schools in Atlanta in 1998, the two friends attended New York University. While there, King picked up the guitar again, and revisited the finger-style techniques that intrigued her as a child. While at NYU she studied with Dr. Bill Rayner, an accomplished professor of guitar. From there, King played a few occasional gigs and busked in the New York subways.^[6][7]

Career[link]

After signing with Velour Records in 2002, King began recording her debut album, Everybody Loves You. She incorporated finger-style "fanning," with both flamenco style percussion and fret tapping techniques, as well as using double open tunings, viola tunings, and traditional Russian guitar (7th tunings). On April 22, 2003, Everybody Loves You was released to positive reviews and feedback on King's skills as a guitarist in relation to her age.^[8] While her later work involves more of a band format, Everybody Loves You is King's only fully acoustic guitar album, with the exception of light singing on the hidden bonus track, "The Government." To support the album, King embarked on her first major promotional tour in North America.

After King appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Sony Records offered her a deal with Epic records' Red Ink label. From there, King headed back into the studio to work on her sophomore effort, Legs to Make Us Longer. King began to incorporate different instruments and sound effects into her album, such as looping, light drum work on "Doing the Wrong Thing", and her first incorporation of Lap steel guitar with "My Insect Life." Produced by David Torn, Legs to Make Us Longer was released on Epic's Red Ink Imprint on October 5, 2004 to strong reviews.^[9] In support of the album, King performed as an opening act for Eric Johnson during a leg of his 2005 tour, as well as completing her own nationwide and world tour.

Change in musical style and sound[link]

At the end of her tour for Legs to Make Us Longer in 2005, King departed from her previous musical direction,^[10] out of a desire to escape being pigeonholed as a solo instrumental artist. She amicably parted ways with major label Sony/Epic and returned to her original label, Velour, to begin work on her third album ...Until We Felt Red. Released August 8, 2006 on Velour Records, the album features production work by Tortoise's John McEntire. With the prominence of electric guitar, shoegazing and effect boxes on the new record, and the addition of a full band, the music website AV Club called the sound a "post-rock makeover." She supported the album by going on tour with Sarah Bettens from K's Choice.

Dave Grohl invited King to appear as a guitarist on the track "Ballad of the Beaconsfield Miners", a song penned by Grohl for the upcoming studio album by the Foo Fighters. King agreed and is credited on the album, entitled, Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace, released on September 25, 2007. On November 18, 2007, she joined Dave Grohl on stage to perform the track at the O2 arena in London. Grohl highly praised King's performance:

"There are some guitar players that are good and there are some guitar players that are really fucking good. And then there's Kaki King."^[11]

King toured with the Foo Fighters on the Australian leg of the Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace tour. While on tour, King finished recording what became the Day Sleeper (Australian tour EP). It was released in late 2007, after King had finished work on August Rush, and with Eddie Vedder and Sean Penn on Into The Wild.

Further changes in sound[link]

King performing on lap steel guitar

King recruited Malcolm Burn to help with her newest effort, Dreaming of Revenge,^[12] and in December 2007 wrote about it in her blog: "I finished the new album. Don't get your panties in a tangle, it won't be released until next year, but it's done. And it's amazing." Filled with more melodic pop tunes than previous albums, Dreaming of Revenge was released on March 11, 2008 to highly positive reviews.^[13] On March 4, 2008, iTunes released a full version of Dreaming of Revenge featuring the bonus track "I Need A Girl Who Knows A Map".^[14] After filming a video for Pull Me Out Alive, she began her tour.

In the first half of King's tour, she headlined at The Roxy and toured with The Mountain Goats, which led to the exclusive release of Kaki King and The Mountain Goats EP Black Pear Tree EP. While touring Australia in 2008, King filmed part of the music video Can Anyone Who Has Heard This Music Really Be A Bad Person? in Sydney. Directed by Michael Ebner, the rest of the video was completed in New York in 2009. After completing the last leg of her world tour, King decided to tour once again with a strictly acoustic show. Dubbed 'The "No Bullshit" Tour', King did smaller shows throughout the US and UK that were specifically focused on acoustic works from her first albums along with stripped-down versions of her newer songs.

After completing her "No Bullshit Tour," King scored work on the independent film How I Got Lost, and started to record her next EP, titled Mexican Teenagers EP. Recruiting her band that she used from Dreaming of Revenge, King cut five new tracks for her new album.

[edit] Junior

After meeting with Carter Burwell to start work on the scoring for The Twilight movies, and completing work on Timbaland's Shock Value II (which became Miley Cyrus' "We Belong To The Music"),^[15] King began to outline her ideals for her 5th record. King's interest in Cold War novels, Russian spies and espionage themes, particularly that of double spies living in a double life, became the basis for her new album, Junior. Ranging lyrically "from exuberance and anger to heartbreaking melancholy, and sonically from experimental pieces to accessible pop," Junior showcases her further maturation as a well-rounded artist that continues to defy categorization and expectations.

As with her previous album, 2008's Dreaming of Revenge, Junior was produced by Malcolm Burn and recorded at his studio in Kingston, New York. But in contrast to that record, which was marked by deep textures and layers as well as unusual instrumentation, Junior was specifically made with only three musicians in mind—in this case, King, multi-instrumentalist Dan Brantigan and drummer Jordan Perlson. The result was something more direct. "Prior to this I would have written a lot in the studio and played all the instruments myself," King says. "This time, I really leaned on Dan and Jordan to help shape the songs and help me get the record written."^[16]

King toured for five weeks in Europe in support of her LP Junior, on the Cooking Vinyl label. She later appeared as the musical guest on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, sitting in with The Roots as a part of the house band, and began a US-based tour.

When asked by Premier Guitar Magazine what her plans were after completing her tour, King responded "I've been on the road for four months straight. In another three weeks, we’ll be done with this tour. Honestly, that's about as far as I can see."^[17]

[edit] Traveling Freak Guitar Show

King returned to her roots as a solo acoustic performer in 2011, going on her first tour without a backing band since 2005. King planned a tour with a collection of 7 rare instruments including a harp guitar, dojo, a custom 7-string nylon string guitar with fanned fret board, and a hybrid between a guitar and koto that King made herself.^[18][19] Before beginning the tour, King performed with some of these instruments at the opening of an exhibit of Picasso's guitar paintings at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.^[20] The tour began on February 24 in Mexico City and ended on July 23, 2011 in Italy^[21]

Guitar Art Show[link]

In 2009, King conceived of an art show in which twelve different artists would be commissioned to create visual pieces themed after her songs, using the guitar as the primary artistic medium. As King described it, "What I want to do is to meet twelve amazing artists, give them each a blank guitar, and let them go wild creating anything their heart desires. The theme of each piece would be the title of one of my songs".^[22] The final total came to fifteen distinct pieces which were then put on display for a one night exhibition at The Littlefield in Brooklyn. During the exhibit, King provided her own contribution by covering her hands in pink paint and performing her song, 'Playing with Pink Noise', leaving the guitar covered in pink finger prints.^[23]

Style, techniques and instruments[link]

Playing at The Knitting Factory Los Angeles; January 2005

As a long-time Ovation player, King was invited to design her own custom guitar, the result being the Adamas 1581-KK model. Each guitar is signed by King, and she can be seeing playing it often on tour and in The DVD for Tegan And Sara's The Con.

King's fingerstyle playing combines fret-tapping with slap bass techniques, using the guitar for percussive beats, as well as sound layering and looping. Her playing style has been compared to Michael Hedges and Preston Reed,^[24] the latter of whom she explicitly cites as an influence.^[25]

King uses Elixir Strings, particularly the Acoustic Light Guitar Strings on her custom Ovation Adamas guitar, and is a featured artist on the company's website.

Discography[link]

• Everybody Loves You (2003)
• Legs to Make Us Longer (2004)
• ...Until We Felt Red (2006)
• Day Sleeper (Australian tour EP) (2007)
• Dreaming of Revenge (2008)
• Black Pear Tree EP (2008) (With The Mountain Goats)
• Mexican Teenagers EP (2009)
• Junior (2010)

See also[link]

Preston Reed

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Kaki King

• Official Kaki King Website