New IUCN Species Survival Commission Goby and Blenny Specialist Group

Jaafar, Z., Goatley, C. H., Palmer, C. J., & Vincent, A. C.J

In August 2025, the IUCN Species Survival Commission launched the Goby and Blenny Specialist Group, dedicated to the conservation of c. 4,000 species of gobies, blennies, clingfishes and dragonets. This phylogenetically diverse but functionally coherent guild comprises small, benthic fishes that are critical for ecosystem functions. Yet these taxa face many significant but poorly addressed conservation challenges. Their limited distributions and microhabitat specializations render them vulnerable to both broad and local disturbances such as coastal development, wetland conversion, habitat degradation and fisheries. The loss of even small habitat patches can result in population decline or extirpation.

Jaafar, Z., Goatley, C. H., Palmer, C. J., & Vincent, A. C.J.  New IUCN Species Survival Commission Goby and Blenny Specialist Group. Oryx. Published online 2026:1-1. doi:10.1017/S0030605325102767

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