GOBIIDAE


Gladiogobius rex, 3.2 cm SL
(photo by Ukkrit Satapoomin)


Gladiogobius rex
Shibukawa and Allen, 2007
King Goby

D VI + I, 9-10; A I, 9; P1 17-18; LR 23-25; PDS 0.

Body moderately elongate, compressed posteriorly. Head slightly compressed; jaws subequal; posterior margin of preopercle with a long, blade-like spinous projection, extending beyond opercular margin; a low fleshy ridge along predorsal midline; gill opening not extending anteriorly to a vertical through posterior margin of preopercle; tongue rounded. Fourth spine of first dorsal fin elongate, filamentous; pelvic fins almost separated; frenum absent. Scales on head and body ctenoid, exclusive of breast with cycloid scales; snout naked; scaled area on prepelvic region extending anteriorly well beyond isthmus, covering anteroventral part of branchiostegal membrane. Sensory canals and pores present on head; longitudinal pattern of sensory papillae on cheek, may be with some short transverse rows of sensory papillae irregularly; uniserial transverse row of sensory papillae just behind chin. Color: body pale gray to whitish, with several dusky lines and blotches; minute bright blue spots scattered on head and body. Size: 3.9 cm SL. Distribution: Andaman Sea, Indian Ocean and Red Sea. Remarks: found in intertidal flat or shallow reef slope.