| Family: |
Microdesmidae (Wormfishes), subfamily: Ptereleotrinae |
| Max. size: |
3.5 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; brackish; marine |
| Distribution: |
Indo-West Pacific: Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman (Ref. 11441) to Fiji, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Indonesia. Recently recorded from Tonga (Ref. 53797). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-16; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 14-16. Body yellowish brown with a black longitudinal stripe and a bright blue spot between dorsal spines 5 and 6. SL to 25 mm (Ref. 1602).
Description: Characterized further by having 70-85 longitudinal scale series; presence of head pores around top and rear margin of each eye; preopercular pores present or absent (Ref. 90102). |
| Biology: |
Inhabits mangrove swamps and inlet waters (Ref. 559); shallow coastal waters with mud, sand, or rock bottoms (Ref. 1602). Forms aggregations near surface (Ref. 90102). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 18 August 2023 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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