GOBIIDAE


Amblyeleotris steinitzi, 3.5 cm SL
(photo by Richard Winterbottom)


Amblyeleotris steinitzi
(Klausewits, 1974)
Steinitz' Prawn Goby

D VI + I, 11-12; A I, 12; P1 18-19; LR 64-78; PDS 0.

Body elongate and compressed. Head slightly compressed; lower jaw slightly protruding beyond upper jaw; gill opening extending anteriorly beyond a vertical line through posterior margin of preopercle; tongue rounded or near truncate. Pelvic fins almost separated, with a vestigial connecting membrane between innermost rays. Scales ctenoid posteriorly, cycloid anteriorly; head naked. Sensory canals and pores present on head; a series of short transverse rows of sensory papillae below eye; a pair of sensory papillae just behind chin. Color: 5-6 dark reddish brown bars on head and body (sixth one, if present, vertically elongate spot-like at base of caudal fin); numerous, close-set sky blue dots on head and body; several faint yellow vertical lines on ventral half of side of body; dorsal fins with numerous minute yellow dots. Size: 5.0 cm SL. Distribution: Indo-Pacific. Remarks: found on sandy or sandy-mud bottom may be with rubbles in coral reefs; symbiotically associates with alpheid shrimps.