Elacatinus oceanops

Common Name

Neon Goby

Year Described

Jordan, 1904

Identification

Dorsal Fin: VII, 11-14 (usually 12-13)
Anal Fin: 10-13
Pectoral Fin: 16-19 (usually 16-17)
Caudal Fin:
Gill Rakers: 9-10 (total)
Vertebrae: 27-29

Mouth ventral with overhanging snout. Body scaleless. Pelvic fins fused to form a sucking disk.

Color

Body stripe bright blue; begins as a short segment anterior to eye and extends rearward to caudal fin. Top of eye white. A dorsal and lateral black stripe borders blue stripe. Belly is pale to gray. Snout without a spot. Fins transparent.

Size

Maximum size to 39.5mm SL.

Habitat

Perches on coral heads on reefs from 1-45m. Engages in cleaning behavior.

Range

Known from the coast of southern Florida and the Florida Keys.

References

Böhlke, J. E. and C. R. Robins. 1968. Western Atlantic seven-spined gobies, with descriptions of ten new species and a new genus, and comments on Pacific relatives. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia v. 120: 45-174.

Other Notes

The related Elacatinus lobeli has a different distribution and has its blue stripe bordered by dark gray.