Shoulderspot Goby, Gnatholepis cauerensis (Bleeker, 1853)

Introduction

The Shoulderspot Goby is whitish with red-brown lines along the sides of the body and 6-7 brown blotches on the lower sides. It has a thin dark bar running vertically through the eye and across the cheek. There is a dark-margined yellow to orange spot above the base of the pectoral fin.

Identification

The Shoulderspot Goby is whitish with red-brown lines along the sides of the body and 6-7 brown blotches on the lower sides. It has a thin dark bar running vertically through the eye and across the cheek. There is a dark-margined yellow to orange spot above the base of the pectoral fin.

It is listed in most recent publications as Gnatholepis scapulostigma. The research of Randall and Greenfield has shown that cauerensis is the correct species name for this fish.

Habitat

It is mostly found on coral reefs.

Distribution

In Australia it is recorded from south-western Western Australia, around the tropical north of the country and south to the central coast of New South Wales.

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.

References

• Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
• Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
• Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
• Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.
• Randall, J.E. & D.W. Greenfield. 2001. A preliminary review of the Indo-Pacific gobiid fishes of the genus Gnatholepis. Ichthyological Bulletin of the J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology. No. 69. Pp. 17.