Elacatinus colini Randall & Lobel, 2009
Belize sponge goby
photo by Lobel, P.

Family:  Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobiinae
Max. size:  3.2 cm SL (male/unsexed); 3.35 cm SL (female)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine
Distribution:  Caribbean Sea: Belize.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-12; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 10-11. Dorsal rays VII + I, 11 (10–12, rarely 10); anal rays I,10 (10–11, two of 15 with 11); pectoral rays 17–19 (usually 18, one of 30 with 19); no scales; body and fins covered with thick adherent mucus; mouth subterminal; tongue truncate; no rostral frenum; color in alcohol pale yellowish gray with a midlateral black stripe from eye nearly to posterior end of caudal fin, about a pupil diameter in width on head, broadening to about an eye diameter in width on body; a blackish line extending posteriorly from above upper edge of eye, continuing below base of dorsal fins, and extending into dorsal part of caudal fin; fins otherwise translucent gray; color in life of body above black lateral stripe bluish to greenish gray with a bright white stripe as wide as pupil passing between black stripe and black line, becoming yellow on head as it nears upper edge of eye; dorsal part of iris brilliant yellow; snout and lips dusky yellow; a median brilliant yellow band on snout extending into anterior interorbital; ventral part of head and body whitish (Ref. 81169).
Biology:  Collected with a hand net from a patch reef of mixed coral and sponge on sloping sand substratum at 5 m (Ref. 81169).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 23 March 2011 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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