Pleurosicya boldinghi Weber, 1913
Soft-coral goby
Pleurosicya boldinghi
photo by Kuiter, R.H.

Family:  Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobiinae
Max. size:  4.5 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 5 - 82 m
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: East Africa to Solomon Islands; Japan to Western Australia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 6-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7-7; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 6-8. Characterized by semi-translucent body and fins, blend s well with soft coral or seapen; nape usually scaled to behind eyes; longitudinal scale series 22-25; wide gill opening, reaching forward to below posterior edge of eye; relatively deep bodied, depth of body at anus 3.8-5.8 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Lives on Dendronephthya soft corals, usually at depth of 20 meters or more in areas subject to strong currents. Large corals may play host to several individuals (Ref. 48637). Also found with Sarcophyton soft corals and sea pens in 5-82 m (Ref 90102).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 26 August 2020 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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 Not for publication.