Goldspeckled Shrimpgoby, Ctenogobiops pomastictus (Lubbock & Polunin, 1977)

Introduction

The Goldspeckled Shrimpgoby has a white body with brown spots. The species shares a burrow with one or more shrimps.

Identification

The Goldspeckled Shrimpgoby has a white body with brown spots. There is a distinctive white spot on the pectoral fin.

Habitat

The Goldspeckled Shrimpgoby is usually found in silty or sandy subtidal reefs and lagoon areas at depths from 1 m to 20 m.

Distribution

This fish occurs in tropical marine waters of the Western Pacific, from the Ryukyu Islands, throughout Micronesia, south to Australia and east to the Mariana Islands. In Australia, the Goldspeckled Shrimpgoby is known from the north-western coast of Western Australia, around the tropical north of the country and south to the southern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Other behaviours and adaptations

It shares the burrows of the shrimps Alpheus djeddensis, Alpheus djiboutensis and Alpheus ochrostriatus. When disturbed the fish and shrimps retreat into the burrow. Burrows usually have two or three entrances.

References

1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 220.
2. Allen, G.R. & R. Swainston. 1988. The Marine Fishes of North-Western Australia. A Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 201.
3. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
4. Myers, R.F. 1999. Micronesian Reef Fishes. Coral Graphics. Pp. 222.
5. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 415.