Bryaninops yongei (Davis & Cohen, 1969)
Whip coral goby
Bryaninops yongei
photo by Brett, O.J. / www.tropicalfavourites.com

Family:  Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobiinae
Max. size:  3.5 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 3 - 45 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to the Hawaiian and Rapa islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to the northern Great Barrier Reef. Also known from outer shelf off Miyakojima, East China Sea.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7-10; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 7-10. Characterized by semi-transparent upper body and brownish on lower; body with few evident dark bars; 3-6 lowermost pectoral rays unbranched and thickened; longitudinal scale series 26-58; cup-like pelvic fins with pocket-like thickened, folded and lobed frenum; opening of gill reaching ventrally to below base of pectoral fin (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Lives exclusively on Cirripathes anguina found along current-swept drop-offs or backreefs (Ref. 48637). Benthic (Ref. 58302). Occurs in pairs, occasionally with juvenile or a smaller female, Ref. 48637. Also found on seaward and lagoon reefs in 3-45 m (Ref 90102). Feeds on zooplanktons (Ref. 89972).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 13 March 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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