Ctenogobiops pomastictus Lubbock & Polunin, 1977
Gold-specked prawn-goby
photo by Hazes, B.

Family:  Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobiinae
Max. size:  8 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 15 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Ryukyu Islands to Queensland, Australia, east to Mariana Islands. Eastern Indian Ocean: Andaman Sea and northwest Australia (Ref. 9710); including China (Ref. 31517).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-12; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 11-12. Characterized by pale grey body color; side of body with four longitudinal rows of dark brown spots (midlateral row largest); presence of small ocellated yellow to orange spot between each pair of midlateral brown spot; head and body covered with scattered small yellow to brown spots; basal part of pectoral fin with intense white spot; longitudinal scale series 50-55; opening of gill extending to or slightly before vertical at posterior edge of preopercle; greatest depth of body 4.5-5.0 in SL; rounded caudal fin, about equal to head length (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Occurs on fine sand and silt bottoms of subtidal reef flats and lagoons to a depth over 20 m. Uses burrows of alpheid shrimps for refuge. Inhabits coastal sand slopes to about 15 meters depth (Ref. 48637).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 27 August 2020 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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