Paragobiodon lacunicolus (Kendall & Goldsborough, 1911)
Blackfin coral goby
photo by Lougher, T.

Family:  Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobiinae
Max. size:  3 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range - 80 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific: Seychelles (Ref. 9710) and Chagos Islands to Line and Tuamoto Islands; north to Ryukyu and Bonin Islands; south to Lord Howe Island; throughout Micronesia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-10; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 8-9. Characterized by pinkish head ; body color white to pale yellow; fins black except pale pelvic fins; longitudinal scale series 22-24; ctenoid scales except cycloid on abdomen; scaleless head, nape, prepectoral region, breast and midventral portion of abdomen; presence of fleshy papillae on snout and cheek; complete pelvic fin frenum and basal membrane; depth of body at level of pelvic fins 3.0-3.1 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Lives exclusively among the branches of the coral Pocillopora damicornis, sometimes as deep as 20 m.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 12 March 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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