Asterropteryx ensifera (Bleeker, 1874) Miller's damsel |
photo by
Honeycutt, K. |
Family: | Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobiinae | |||
Max. size: | 3 cm SL (male/unsexed) | |||
Environment: | reef-associated; brackish; marine; depth range 6 - 40 m | |||
Distribution: | Indo-Pacific: Seychelles and Madagascar east to Marshall and Society islands, north to Ryukyu Islands, south to northern Australia. | |||
Diagnosis: | Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-10; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 9-9. Characterized by dark brown color with blue spots on head, body and fins; prolonged third dorsal spine, forms long filament in adult; longitudinal scale series 24; ctenoid scales; scaled cheek and opercle; corner of preopercle with single broad based spine, length about half of two-thirds pupil diameter; rounded caudal fin; depth of body 2.7-3.1 in SL (Ref. 90102). | |||
Biology: | Found on coral rubble (Ref. 43239). Collected from river mouths (Ref. 559). Feeds on zooplankton (Ref. 37816). Usually occurs in large colonies that cover extensive zones of rubble (Ref 90102). | |||
IUCN Red List Status: | Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 11 March 2015 Ref. (130435) | |||
Threat to humans: | harmless |