Cryptocentrus fasciatus (Playfair, 1867)
Y-bar shrimp goby
Cryptocentrus fasciatus
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobiinae
Max. size:  14 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 5 - 20 m
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: East Africa to Melanesia and the Great Barrier Reef.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 6-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-10; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 9-9. Mostly black with fine pale spotting or white saddles over top of head and back; sometimes yellow (Ref. 30404); further characterized by variable coloration ranging from yellow, entirely blackish, or barred or mottled; dorsal fins unmarked; barred variety with four brown saddles, head with white or bluish streaks, plain dorsal fins, pelvic fins with blue spots, blue stripe on anal fin; saddled variety dark brown color with whitish saddles on top of head and along back; head with small white or blue spots or streaks, pelvic fins with blue spots, blue stripes on anal fins; mottled variety with four diffuse brown bars on side; lower operculum with large brown blotch, head with white to bluish spots, strong mottling on back, anal fin with blue stripes; united pelvic fins, presence of frenum; longitudinal scale series 77-92; absence of scales on head except a few scales dorsally on opercle; greatest depth of body 5.5-5.8 in SL; rounded caudal fin, 3.2-3.8 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Found on sand near patch reefs, usually in 5 m but to at least 15 m (Ref. 9710). Found in burrows with alpheid shrimps (Ref. 2334). Two individuals sometimes share a burrow, and these may be one of each color (Ref. 9360). Occurs in clear coastal and inner reef sand slopes, in small colonies in depth of 6-20 meters (Ref. 48637).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 25 June 2018 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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