Amblyeleotris periophthalma (Bleeker, 1853)
Periophthalma prawn-goby
photo by Brett, O.J. / www.tropicalfavourites.com

Family:  Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobiinae
Max. size:  11 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 5 - 35 m
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: Persian Gulf (Ref.80050) and Red Sea to Tonga, north to Japan and south to Australia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-12; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 12-12. Characterized by whitish body color; head and side with six brown to reddish bars and irregular brown blotches in pale spaces in between; four branched main body bars on lower side; red blotch on lower cheek just behind mouth; red or orange spots on head, dark-edged; separate pelvic fins, joined by low membrane at base of fins; without median predorsal scales or only few embedded scales just in front of first dorsal fin; longitudinal scale series 80-85; greatest depth of body 4.6-6.4 in SL; caudal fin longer than head, 2.8-3.4 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Inhabits coastal to outer reef sand slopes to 35 meters depth (Ref. 48637); on sandy areas of lagoon and seaward reefs (Ref. 9710). Inhabits burrows with alpheid shrimps (Ref. 11441).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 25 June 2018 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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