GOBIIDAE


Bryaninops loki
(photo by Mark Strickland)


Bryaninops loki
Larson, 1985
Loki Whip Goby

D VI + I, 7-9; A I, 7-9; P1 13-17; LR 33-53; PDS 0.

Body moderately elongate and compressed. Head subcylindrical; gill opening extending anteriorly well beyond a vertical through posterior margin of preopercle; anterior margin of tongue trilobed. Pelvic fins united medially; frenum present; skin around pelvic-fin spine thickened, forming a lobe-like appearance. Scales ctenoid; head, predorsal region, pectoral-fin base and belly naked. Sensory canals and pores present on head; longitudinal pattern of sensory papillae on cheek. Color: body transparent when alive, with a series of 7 broad reddish bars on ventral half; bright white line along dorsal surface of vertebral column; anteroventral part of caudal fin tinged with red or blackish red. Size: 4.5 cm SL. Distribution: Indo-West Pacific. Remarks: commensally associates with sea whips and sea fans.