Luposicya lupus Smith, 1959
Wolfsnout goby
photo by Allen, G.R.

Family:  Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobiinae
Max. size:  3.5 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 15 m
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: Pinda, Mozambique to Indonesia, north to Japan. Recently reported from Tonga (Ref. 53797).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-8; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 8-8. Characterized by semi-transparent head and body often covered with dense pepper-like spots; presence of thin brown internal stripe interrupted by eight white dash-like marking along dorsal edge of vertebral column; peritoneum silvery or whitish with pair of large brown blotches; snout with a pair of narrow brown stripes; 3-6 lowermost pectoral rays, unbranched and sometimes thickened; longitudinal scale series 26-32; elongated oval or flattened cup shape formed by pelvic fins; restricted gill opening, ranging from just past lower pectoral fin base to below preopercular margin; fleshy snout overhanging lower jaw (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Inhabits large sponges, usually on the underside of floppy or fan types that grow on shallow reef flats and down on slopes that are subject to moderate currents (Ref. 48637).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 12 March 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.