| Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobiinae |
| 10 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
|
reef-associated; marine; depth range 1 - 20 m |
| Indo-Pacific: Ashmore Reef, Maldives, and Seychelles to Oceania, north to Ryukyu Islands, south to the Great Barrier Reef. |
|
Dorsal spines (total): 6-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-12; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 12-12. Characterized by pale grey body color; lower half of body with a pair of stripes linked by diffuse dark bars; faint dark grey bars/saddles on back; presence of blue-white stripe below eye to edge of gill opening, continued as white spot on upper pectoral fin base; without filamentous dorsal spines; rounded and short caudal fin, about equal to head length; longitudinal scale series 67-85; ctenoid body scales, becoming cycloid anteriorly below anterior part of first dorsal fin; without scales on head or midline of nape; side of nape with scales extending forward slightly anterior to above upper end of gill opening; scaleless pectoral fin base; partly scaled or scaleless prepelvic area; depth of body 5.7-6.6 in SL (Ref. 90102). |
| Inhabits coastal and inner reef sand flats and slopes, often in large lagoons (Ref. 48637). Found normally over clean, medium-grained sand patches interspersed with coral heads. It shares its habitat with the larger species such as V. longipinnis. Occurs in pairs or small groups and has been observed in burrows. Monogamous (Ref. 52884). Observed to rock back and forth when moving near the burrow. |
|
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 11 March 2015 Ref. (130435)
|
| harmless |
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