Common Name
Yellowprow Goby
Year Described
Böhlke & Robins, 1968
Identification
Dorsal Fin: VII, 11-13 (usually 12)
Anal Fin: 11
Pectoral Fin: 18-20 (usually 19)
Caudal Fin:
Gill Rakers:
Vertebrae: 28
Mouth subterminal. Body scaleless. Pelvic fins fused to form a sucking disk.
Color
Body stripe bright yellow and narrow; tapering off on caudal fin. Lateral stripe black; continuing on caudal fin. Snout dark with a elliptical yellow spot. Back black to dark gray, often with a bluish sheen. Belly pale. Flanks with scattered melanophores. Fins transparent and speckled with melanophores.
Size
Maximum size to 31.4mm SL.
Habitat
Inhabits deep reefs from 20-28m. Associates with sponges and does not engage in cleaning behavior.
Range
Known from the coast of southern Florida, Dry Tortugas, 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
Elacatinus colini and E. serranilla have white body stripes, and live outside the range of E. xanthiprora.