Common Name
Ribbon Goby
Year Described
Taylor & Akins, 2007
Identification
Dorsal Fin: VII, 11
Anal Fin: 9-10
Pectoral Fin: 17
Caudal Fin: 17 (segmented)
Vertebrae: 11 precaudal, 17 caudal; 27 total
Body elongate with a blunt snout. Two preopercular pores. Usually no scales on caudal peduncle. Four modified basicaudal scales. Last 2 dorsal spines separated more than the anterior five. Anterior spine may be elongate in mature males. Pelvic fin forms a fused disk.
Color
Body translucent with 13 body bands (narrower than interspaces) that are golden to orange-brown. Melanophores concentrated in middle of bars make them look darker. Interspaces with lighter concentrations of melanophores. Gut and vertebrae boldly banded in black and white internally. Bands continue onto head region and grade to bright red. Eye banded. Fins sprinkled with dark melanophores.
Size
Maximum size to 19mm SL.
Habitat
Found on shallow coral reefs (3-8m), either perched on coral heads or on coral rubble.
Range
Gulf of Mexico: endemic to the southern Gulf on the Veracruz reef system.
References
Taylor, M. S., & Akins, L. 2007. Two new species of Elacatinus (Teleosei: Gobiidae) from the Mexican coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Zootaxa. 1425: 45-51.
Other Notes
This and Tigrigobius macrodon are the only Tigrigobius known from the Gulf of Mexico.