| Family: |
Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobiinae |
| Max. size: |
4.08 cm SL (male/unsexed); 3.85 cm SL (female) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 3 - 26 m |
| Distribution: |
Western Indian Ocean: restricted to the Red Sea and inner Gulf of Aden (Gulf of Tadjoura). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-16; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 15-15. This species is distinguished by the following characters: D VI + I,15-16; A I,15; pectoral-fin rays 15; longitudinal scale series 50-54; scales in transverse series 14-17; predorsal scales 19-23; naked cheek and opercle; scales cover the basal 1/4-1/6 of the caudal fin and becoming rapidly smaller and cycloid; prepectoral area with about 3-6 vertical series of fine cycloid scales covering the entire base of the pectoral fin; cycloid scales on prepelvic area , 9-11 in the midventral row; interorbital 90-100% of eye diameter; width of body at anal-fin origin 10.8-12.4% of SL; depth of caudal peduncle 64.6-73.7% of its length; head depth 55.2-60.5% of HL; length of 11th second dorsal-fin ray 9.9-11.5% of SL; length of 8th anal-fin ray 10.2-13.5% of SL. Body with longitudinal yellow stripes only on upper half of body; mid-dorsal stripe and the pair of dorsolateral stripes diverging before eyes and then converging halfway between eye and first dorsal fin, a yellow stripe between mid-dorsal and dorsolateral stripes extending from side of nape continuing along dorsal-fin bases and almost reaching, with interruptions, to ocellus on back; head brown dorsally and whitish ventrally, yellowish white demarcation stripe, starting anteriorly at angle of jaw and going back to middle of pectoral-fin base; another yellowish white stripe beginning from the posterior part of upper jaw across upper cheek, opercle, and upper pectoral-fin base becoming a demarcation stripe behind pectoral fin, dividing the brown upper part of body from the grey lower part, and disappearing below middle of second dorsal fin; first dorsal fin with dark red or red-brown ocellus, a black center and edged with black; a weak orange-red streak is visible above ocellus (Ref. 119548). |
| Biology: |
A coral-reef species that is usually seen hovering a short distance above the substratum in lagoons and seaward reefs. Usually solitary, but sometimes seen in a small group, where each individual is at moderate distance from the others. From the food items found in the gut of one specimen of Koumansetta hectori (filamentous algae, harpacticoid copepods, amphipods, ostracods, and nematodes) a similar benthic, omnivorous diet may be expected for this species (Ref. 119548). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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