Vanderhorstia rapa Iwata, Shibukawa & Ohnishi, 2007

Family:  Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobiinae
Max. size:  5.03 cm SL (female)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 25 - 50 m
Distribution:  Northwest Pacific; oof southwest coast of Shikoku and Izu Islands (Japan)
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-11; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 11-11. This species differs from other congeners in having the following characters: 11 segmented rays on second dorsal fin; 33-35 longitudinal scale count; no predorsal scales; 11-12 transverse scale count from origin of second dorsal fin backward and downward to anal-fin base; naked pectoral-fin base; third spine of first dorsal fin longest, slightly elongate and filamentous; sensory-papillae row comprising four sensory papillae; a deep trough along posterior margin of eyes (Fig. 5B); first dorsal fin with numerous minute scattered yellow spots and no yellow submarginal lines; four faint brownish (tinged with yellow) mid-lateral blotches (rather than saddle-like bars) on body (Ref. 75057).
Biology:  Occurs in coarse sandy bottom around rubble area, and found to be symbiotically associated with the alpheid shrimps (Ref. 75057).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 14 November 2023 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans: 


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