Gobiodon okinawae Sawada, Arai & Abe, 1972
Okinawa goby
Gobiodon okinawae
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobiinae
Max. size:  3.5 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range - 15 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: north to southern Japan, south to Rowley Shoals and the southern Great Barrier Reef. Palau and Marshall Islands in Micronesia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-11; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 9-9. Characterized by uniform bright yellow color; absence of scales; complete pelvic fin frenum and basal membrane; depth of body at level of pelvic fins 2.7-3.5 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Lives among staghorn Acropora corals in lagoons and hovers among or above the branches and also rests on them (Ref. 1602, 48637); a coral-commensal species (Ref. 72446). Occurs in aggregations of 5-15 individuals.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 28 June 2018 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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