| Family: |
Microdesmidae (Wormfishes), subfamily: Ptereleotrinae |
| Max. size: |
11.2 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
demersal; marine; depth range 2 - 15 m |
| Distribution: |
Western Indian Ocean: northern end of the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea, and the Persian Gulf. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 26-29; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 25-28; Vertebrae: 26-26. Pale grayish blue when fresh; white abdomen and thorax; opercle with 2 irregular blue bands; side of snout with a diagonal blue band, ending at upper edge of orbit. Iris silvery white, upper and lower edges broadly bright blue. Chin barbel followed by a median longitudinal fold. Scales tiny, embedded and non imbricate. Caudal fin with 3rd and 11th branched rays greatly prolonged as filaments; 1st dorsal fin lower than 2nd; short pelvic fins. Named arabica in reference to known localities. |
| Biology: |
Takes refuge in burrows occupied by symbiotic alpheids and gobies of the genera Amblyeleotris and Cryptocentrus (https://www.oceandocs.org/handle/1834/10331?locale-attribute=ru).. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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