Pleurosicya larsonae Greenfield & Randall, 2004
photo by Greenfield, D.W./J.E. Randall

Family:  Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobiinae
Max. size:  1.95 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 6 m
Distribution:  Eastern Central Pacific: Hawaii.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7-8; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 7-8. This small species has the following characteristics: a broad head and moderate snout, eyes set dorsolaterally; second dorsal- and anal-fin rays I,7-I,8 (usually I,8); pectoral-fin rays 17-18 (usually 17); longitudinal scales 24; TRB 6; nape naked; pelvic fin rounded, cup-like, with fleshy, rounded pelvic spine lobes; tongue round; lower gill opening margin attached at level of preopercular margin; gill membranes broadly joined to isthmus; live color translucent with orange markings and some melanophores (Ref. 58271).
Biology:  This species appears to be extremely cryptic, collected five times only in a total of 75 general ichthyocide collections, with 4 of those collections from a specific habitat, shallow patch reefs (0-4.6 m) with good circulation. The sixth collection from that specific habitat only occurred after a number of futile attempts to collect more individuals for photographs. This particular species was reported to have been at Haleiwa, O’ahu, living on Porites compressa (Ref. 58271). Benthic (Ref. 58302).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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 Not for publication.