| Family: |
Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobiinae |
| Max. size: |
3.5 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 3 - 15 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to Marshall Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to eastern Australia (Ref. 33390). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-9; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 9-10. Color pattern similar to P. echinocephalus (i.e. reddish orange head an black body and fins), but has shorter papillae on head. Midline of belly naked (Ref. 1602). Transverse scales 10-11. Mouth strongly curved downward; lips thick; chin heavy and square. Entire nape naked. Opercles with short, soft prickles or fibrils which also occur from lower margin of preopercles to mouth; ventrals also covered with similar prickles; dorsal fins very close together; dorsal base discontinuous; 2nd dorsal higher than 1st, posterior rays elongated; anal similar to 2nd dorsal but lower; caudal rounded; pectoral broad (Ref. 43541); characterized further by: longitudinal scale series 22-24; scales ctenoid except head, nape, pectoral region, breast and midventral portion of abdomen; complete pelvic fin frenum and basal membrane; depth of body at level of pelvic fins 3.0-3.4 in SL (Ref. 90102). |
| Biology: |
Occurs among the branches of live Pocillopora, in lagoons to a depth of at least 7 m (Ref. 1602). Also found among branches of Seriatopora corals in 3-15 m (Ref 90102). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 12 March 2015 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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