| Family: |
Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobiinae |
| Max. size: |
2.72 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 3 - 25 m |
| Distribution: |
Western Atlantic: Caribbean. Known only from the Veracruz reef system near Veracruz, Mexico (as far north as Isla De Lobos [21°29.36'N, 97°13.53'W] and as far south as Anton Lizardo [ca. 19°04.41'N, 95°50.21'W]). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-12; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 9-11. Elacatinus jarocho is readily distinguished from other species of Elacatinus (s.s.) by the disjunct yellow lateral stripe that appears as a dash over the eye and on the caudal fin, a yellow medial stripe on the snout, and a black ovoid to rectangular spot at the base of the caudal fin, immediately ventral to the yellow dash (Ref. 58341). |
| Biology: |
This species was found between 3-25 m depth on high profile coral reefs typically dominated by Montastrea cavernosa (Linneaus), M. annularis (Ellis and Solander), Colpophyllia natans (Houttuyn) and skeletal reef framework. Elacatinus jarocho joins E. atronasus (Böhlke & Robins) as the only two species in the genus to school in the water column. Small to large aggregations (12-60 individuals) of E. jarocho were normally found close to the reef near high profile corals or overhangs. Such reef structure presumably provides shelter from direct sunlight because aggregations were usually observed in darker, shaded areas rather than in direct sunlight. Individuals of E. jarocho, unlike E. atronasus, were never observed stationary on any substrate, but rather hovered continuously about 5–25 cm above the reef, frequently in association
with Coryphopterus hyalinus Böhlke & Robins or C. personatus (Jordan & Thompson). This species was not observed to clean other species or interact in other symbiotic relationships. Small and large individuals coexisted in the same aggregations and did not display territorial or hierarchical behaviors. Individual fish would often, though not always, move slowly toward cover when approached to less than 1 m by scuba divers (Ref. 58341). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Endangered (EN); Date assessed: 10 January 2014 (B2ab(iii)) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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