Peacock Gudgeon

The peacock gudgeon, Tateurndina ocellicauda, is a small freshwater fish endemic to lowland streams and pools of Papua New Guinea. Despite belonging to the Eleotridae, or sleeper goby family, most of whose members are drab bottom-dwellers, the peacock gudgeon stands out for its vivid coloration, with a body dusted in iridescent blue spots and fins washed in orange and yellow. A distinctive dark, gold-ringed eyespot near the tail base gives the species its 'peacock' name. Unlike many gudgeons, it is notably peaceful and well suited to community aquariums, where it is valued for both its color and calm temperament. It remains common within its native range in New Guinea's lowland freshwater systems.

• Small, plump-bodied fish with a rounded head and gently sloping profile
• Base coloration of tan to purplish-gray, densely covered in iridescent blue spots and speckles
• Fins tinged orange to yellow, more vivid in mature males
• Prominent dark eyespot ringed in gold or orange near the base of the tail
• Males develop a more pronounced nuchal hump on the forehead than females
• Distinguished from true gobies by two separate dorsal fins rather than a fused pelvic sucker disc

Peacock gudgeons are native to lowland freshwater habitats of Papua New Guinea, including slow streams, forest pools, and swampy tributaries with soft, often leaf-litter-stained water. They favor calm, well-vegetated areas with overhanging cover, submerged roots, and leaf litter, where they can forage and shelter from predators. Water in their native range tends to be warm and slightly acidic to neutral. As lowland forest habitats face pressure from land conversion and development, localized populations may be affected, though the species remains relatively widespread across suitable freshwater habitats in its native New Guinea range.

Peacock gudgeons are carnivorous, feeding on small invertebrates, insect larvae, and zooplankton picked from the substrate and water column. Unlike many territorial gobies and gudgeons, they are notably peaceful, often forming loose pairs or small groups without significant aggression toward tankmates. During breeding, males display intensified coloration and court females near a chosen cave or crevice, where eggs are laid on a hard surface and guarded by the male until they hatch. Both cave-spawning behavior and biparental care of eggs are typical of the species. They are generally slow-moving and spend much of their time hovering near cover rather than in open water.