GOBIODON ERYTHROSPILUS - (BLEEKER, 1875)
Picture courtesy of: Alain Daoulas
Actinopterygii (Gigaclass) > Actinopteri (Class) > Teleostei (Subclass) > Gobiiformes (Order) > Gobioidei (Suborder) > Gobiidae (Family) > Gobiinae (Subfamily) > Gobiodon (Genus)
Red-spotted coralgoby, Blue-spotted coral-goby, Akaten-Koban-Haze, シュオビコバンハゼ,
Actinopterygii (Gigaclass) > Actinopteri (Class) > Teleostei (Subclass) > Gobiiformes (Order) > Gobioidei (Suborder) > Gobiidae (Family) > Gobiinae (Subfamily) > Gobiodon (Genus)
Red-spotted coralgoby, Blue-spotted coral-goby, Akaten-Koban-Haze, シュオビコバンハゼ,
Synonyme
Gobius douglasi (Saville-Kent, 1893)
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Description
Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-11 (usually: 10); Anal spine: 1; Anal soft rays: 8-10 (usually: 9); Pectoral fin rays: 18-21 (usually: 20); Pelvic fin rays: I, 5; Segmented caudal fin rays: 9＋8, all rays branched except for uppermost and/or lower most ray occasionally unbranched; Upper unsegmented caudal fin rays: 6-7 (usually: 7); Lower unsegmented caudal fin rays: 6-7 (usually: 6); Vertebrae: 10 ＋ 16 ＝ 26; Epural: 1; Anal fin pterygiophores anterior to first haemal spine: 2. Body ovate, well compressed. Head compressed; Snout rounded; Jaws subequal; Gill opening narrow, restricted to pectoral fin base; Tongue narrow, with rounded anterior margin. First dorsal fin near rounded (rather than triangular); Pelvic fins small, united medially; Frenum present. No scales on head and body. Sensory canals and pores present on head; Reduced longitudinal pattern of sensory papillae on cheek; A pair of sensory papillae just behind chin. Max. length: 5.4 cm TL. Depth range: 0 - 8 m.
Color
Body yellowish-green to sky-blue, with numerous reddish spots and stripes; Vertical reddish bars on head and pectoral fin base, those on cheek and operculum relatively short: 5-6 (usually: 5), usually not or just reaching dorsally beyond dorsal margin of eye; Body with 3-8 longitudinal series of rounded or longitudinally elongate scarlet/reddish spots, sometimes joined to form longitudinal stripes; Dorsal, anal and caudal fins pale yellow with very narrow black distal margins; No black spot at dorsoposterior corner of operculum.
Etymology
Gobiodon: from Latin, gobius = gudgeon + from Greek, odous = teeth. Referring to pair of posterior canines near symphysis of lower jaw of Gobiodon heterospilos.
erythrospilus: from Latin, erythrós = red + from ancient Greek, spilos = mark or spot. Referring to stripes and spots on head and body a “beautiful carmine”.
Original description: Gobiodon erythrospilus Bleeker, 1875 - Type locality: East Indies.
Distribution
Eastern Indian Ocean, western Pacific: India, east to Solomon Islands, south to Queensland (Australia) and New Caledonia.
Biology
A reef-associated species, commonly living in association with Acropora table-like corals (Acropora nasuta, Acropora valida, Acropora millepora and Acropora tenuis). Capable of changing sex during their life. Remarkably, they can change sex in both directions, from male to female (protandrous), and from female to male (protogynous). Gobiodon species also possess skin toxins that may deter predators.
Similar species
Gobiodon aoyagii (Shibukawa, Suzuki & Aizawa, 2013) - Reported from Western Pacific: Japan, Philippines, Australia, Papua New Guinea and East Indies.
Gobiodon histrio (Valenciennes, 1837) - Reported from New Caledonia - Link to the species (here).
Last update: 6, September 2024
Description
Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-11 (usually: 10); Anal spine: 1; Anal soft rays: 8-10 (usually: 9); Pectoral fin rays: 18-21 (usually: 20); Pelvic fin rays: I, 5; Segmented caudal fin rays: 9＋8, all rays branched except for uppermost and/or lower most ray occasionally unbranched; Upper unsegmented caudal fin rays: 6-7 (usually: 7); Lower unsegmented caudal fin rays: 6-7 (usually: 6); Vertebrae: 10 ＋ 16 ＝ 26; Epural: 1; Anal fin pterygiophores anterior to first haemal spine: 2. Body ovate, well compressed. Head compressed; Snout rounded; Jaws subequal; Gill opening narrow, restricted to pectoral fin base; Tongue narrow, with rounded anterior margin. First dorsal fin near rounded (rather than triangular); Pelvic fins small, united medially; Frenum present. No scales on head and body. Sensory canals and pores present on head; Reduced longitudinal pattern of sensory papillae on cheek; A pair of sensory papillae just behind chin. Max. length: 5.4 cm TL. Depth range: 0 - 8 m.
Color
Body yellowish-green to sky-blue, with numerous reddish spots and stripes; Vertical reddish bars on head and pectoral fin base, those on cheek and operculum relatively short: 5-6 (usually: 5), usually not or just reaching dorsally beyond dorsal margin of eye; Body with 3-8 longitudinal series of rounded or longitudinally elongate scarlet/reddish spots, sometimes joined to form longitudinal stripes; Dorsal, anal and caudal fins pale yellow with very narrow black distal margins; No black spot at dorsoposterior corner of operculum.
Etymology
Gobiodon: from Latin, gobius = gudgeon + from Greek, odous = teeth. Referring to pair of posterior canines near symphysis of lower jaw of Gobiodon heterospilos.
erythrospilus: from Latin, erythrós = red + from ancient Greek, spilos = mark or spot. Referring to stripes and spots on head and body a “beautiful carmine”.
Original description: Gobiodon erythrospilus Bleeker, 1875 - Type locality: East Indies.
Distribution
Eastern Indian Ocean, western Pacific: India, east to Solomon Islands, south to Queensland (Australia) and New Caledonia.
Biology
A reef-associated species, commonly living in association with Acropora table-like corals (Acropora nasuta, Acropora valida, Acropora millepora and Acropora tenuis). Capable of changing sex during their life. Remarkably, they can change sex in both directions, from male to female (protandrous), and from female to male (protogynous). Gobiodon species also possess skin toxins that may deter predators.
Similar species
Gobiodon aoyagii (Shibukawa, Suzuki & Aizawa, 2013) - Reported from Western Pacific: Japan, Philippines, Australia, Papua New Guinea and East Indies.
Gobiodon histrio (Valenciennes, 1837) - Reported from New Caledonia - Link to the species (here).
Last update: 6, September 2024