giant bully
{{Short description|Species of fish}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2024}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Giant bully, Gobiomorphus gobioides.jpg
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| taxon = Gobiomorphus gobioides
| authority = (Valenciennes, 1837)
| synonyms =
- Eleotris gobioides Valenciennes, 1837
| range_map =Gobiomorphus gobioides - map.svg
| range_map_caption = Approximate known distribution (in orange) of the giant bully on a map of New Zealand
}}
The giant bully (Gobiomorphus gobioides), tītarakura, or tīpokopoko (Māori), is a species of fish in the family Eleotridae endemic to New Zealand.{{FishBase |genus= Gobiomorphus|species= gobioides| month = April | year = 2013}}{{Cite web|title=tīpokopoko – Māori Dictionary|url=https://maoridictionary.co.nz/word/44740|website=maoridictionary.co.nz|access-date=2020-05-02}}{{Cite web|title=tītarakura – Māori Dictionary|url=https://maoridictionary.co.nz/word/13820|website=maoridictionary.co.nz|access-date=2020-05-02}}
Description
This is the largest species of bully and it can reach more than {{convert|25|cm|in|abbr=on|0}} in length, but most are {{convert|12|-|15|cm|in|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|title=Giant Bully|url=https://www.niwa.co.nz/freshwater-and-estuaries/nzffd/NIWA-fish-atlas/fish-species/giant_bully|website=NIWA Fish Atlas | access-date=16 February 2017}} Adults are generally found near the coast in freshwater, tidal or estuarine habitats. The breeding behavior is poorly known, but the species is considered diadromous and it is suspected that the larvae spend time in the sea.
It is very similar to the common bully (which can reach up to {{convert|15|cm|in|abbr=on|disp=or}}), but it has six dorsal spines, where the common bully usually has seven.
File:Frank Clarke - Gobiomorphus gobioides (Giant bully).jpg
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1961043}}
Category:Endemic freshwater fish of New Zealand
Category:Taxa named by Achille Valenciennes
{{Eleotridae-stub}}