Priolepis akihitoi Hoese & Larson, 2010
Emperor reefgoby

Family:  Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobiinae
Max. size:  5.3 cm SL (female)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 3 - 25 m
Distribution:  East Indo-West Pacific: Japan to Australia (WA to NSW), and New Caledonia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-10; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 8-8. This species is distinguished by the following characters: eyes slightly elevated resulting in a shallow pit in interorbital area and a shallow groove along dorsoposterior margin of eye; ctenoid scales completely covering predorsal, reaching to above mideye, anteriormost scales sometimes cycloid, no naked patch immediately before the first dorsal spine; small cycloid scales cover pectoral base; 11-13 rows of small cycloid scales cover prepelvic area; cheek usually no scales, rarely with 1 or 2 scales near dorsoposterior margin of preoperculum; operculum with a patch of small ctenoid scales dorsally; usually, D2 I,10, A I,8, pectoral rays 20; sensory papilla rows on cheek with transverse pattern; pelvic fins connected to form a plate, no interspinal membrane; head and body with narrow light bands, and with dark edges; a large elongate black spot anteriorly on first dorsal fin; 3-4 short vertical dark brown bars on dorsal part of caudal fin; mouth oblique, forming an angle of about 40°-45° with body axis (Ref. 85603).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 11 March 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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