Taxonomy & naming
Rhinogobius nantaiensis was described by Aonuma & Chen (1996) and is listed as valid by the Catalog of Fishes, with the type locality the Ailaiopei River of the Kouping River system in Pingtung County, Taiwan. The meaning of the epithet has not been explained in the sources used here.
Morphology
Rhinogobius are small, stocky freshwater gobies with a rounded head and fused pelvic fins forming a sucker disc. Males in many species are more strongly marked, with colour on the fins and cheeks. FishBase gives a maximum of 2.5 in SL for this species; fine colour details have not been compiled here.
Habitat
FishBase lists the species as freshwater and benthopelagic in a subtropical climate, from southern Taiwan and China. The type locality is a tributary of the Kouping (Gaoping) River in Pingtung County, which suggests hill streams. Measured water parameters have not been published.
Feeding
Rhinogobius gobies are small bottom predators that take insect larvae, small crustaceans and other tiny invertebrates. The diet of this species has not been described specifically.
Mating
Courtship has not been described for this species. Males of many Rhinogobius defend a cavity under a stone and court females there.
Breeding
Within the genus, some species are landlocked and breed entirely in fresh water, and others are amphidromous, with larvae going to sea. Which applies to this species has not been described.
In the aquarium
Rhinogobius gobies of cool to subtropical hill streams are generally kept in tanks with flow, cobbles and no heating in cooler climates. Husbandry for this species has not been documented, so this is genus-level guidance only. Fish sold under a Rhinogobius species name are often not verified, and identity in the trade is frequently uncertain.
Conservation
The species has not been assessed by the IUCN, and its population status has not been studied.