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Gobiiformes (Gobies) >
Gobiidae (Gobies) > Gobiinae
Etymology: Lubricogobius: Latin, lubricus = slipperiness, smoothness + Latin, gobius = gudgeon (Ref. 45335); tunicatus: Name referring to its commensal host, the tunicate; masculine singular adjective in the genitive case.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; benthopelagic; depth range 20 - 30 m (Ref. 111062). Tropical
Western Pacific: Papua New Guinea.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 1.1 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 111062); 1.2 cm SL (female)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 10; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 6 - 7; Vertebrae: 24. This species is distinguished by the following characters: D VI-I,9-10 (rarely 10); A I,6-7; pectoral-fin rays 17-19 (rarely 17 or 19); both the anterior and posterior nostrils are present; no scales; pelvic disc with conspicuous frenum; greatest body depth 3.1-3.7 in SL; head length 2.7-3.2 in SL; head compressed, its width 1.0-1.3 in head depth; caudal fin is rounded, 2.6-3.5 in SL. Colouration: in life either semi-translucent dull yellowish or semi-translucent whitish, both varieties with pigment along vertebral column, as alternating long, dark, dash-like marks with intervening shorter white sections; head and body are covered in a uniform scattering of fine melanophores (Ref. 111062).
Apparently invariably associated with a (Polycarpa sp.) on silty-sand bottoms. which was common between about 13-30 m, but only populated by fishes below a depth of about 20 m. About a third of the tunicates below 20 m were estimated to be occupied by fish, solitary or in pairs. The fish were usually observed perched on the lip of the tunicate’s oral or incurrent siphon, retreating quickly inside when disturbed and also made brief forays on the exterior part of the tunicate and around its base (Ref. 111062).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Allen, G.R. and M.V. Erdmann, 2016. Lubricogobius tunicatus, a new species of goby (Pisces: Gobiidae) from Papua New Guinea and the first record of L. ornatus from the East Indies. J. Ocean Sci. Found. 24:24-34. (Ref. 111062)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5156 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01023 (0.00477 - 0.02194), b=3.01 (2.83 - 3.19), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.9 ±0.3 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
