Vanderhorstia ornatissima Smith, 1959
Ornate prawn-goby
photo by Bogorodsky, S.V.

Family:  Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobiinae
Max. size:  8.5 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific: East Africa to Samoa, north to the Ryukyu Islands (Ref. 559).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-14; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 13-13. Thin blue barring or rings near tail along the sides (Ref. 30404).
Biology:  Inhabits shallow sandy areas among seagrass (Ref. 1602) and in silty lagoons amongst rubble (Ref. 30404). Lives in burrows with alpheid shrimp species with dark bands on back (Ref. 30404). Feeds on small benthic invertebrates (Ref. 89972).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 11 March 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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