Elacatinus colini

Common Name

Colin's Goby

Year Described

Randall & Lobel, 2009

Identification

Dorsal Fin: VII, I, 10-12 (usually 11)
Anal Fin: I, 10-11 (usually 10)
Pectoral Fin: 17-19 (usually 18)
Caudal Fin: 12-13 branched, 8-9 upper and lower procurrent
Gill Rakers: 1-2, 7
Vertebrae: 28

Mouth subterminal. Pelvic fins fully united into circular disk. Body scaleless.

Color

Body stripe white, bordered by broad black stripes on both sides. Stripes taper off on caudal fin. Back dark gray. Belly and cheek pale gray to whitish. White body stripe becomes yellow anteriorly on upper eye and snout. Snout yellowish with a yellow median stripe. Fins transparent.

Size

Maximum size to 33.5mm SL.

Habitat

Coral reefs from 2-17m. Closely associated with sponges. It is unclear if it engages in cleaning behavior.

Range

Known from off Belize (Pelican Cays) and off Honduras (Bay Islands).

References

Randall, J. E. & P. S. Lobel. 2009. A literature review of the sponge-dwelling gobiid fishes of the genus Elacatinus from the western Atlantic, with description of two new Caribbean species. Zootaxa No. 2133: 1-19.

Other Notes

This species is related to Elacatinus xanthiprora, which has a yellow lateral stripe and 19-20 pectoral finrays. The range of this species does not overlap with E. colini.