Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Gobiiformes (Gobies) >
Gobiidae (Gobies) > Gobionellinae
Etymology: Gnatholepis: Greek, gnathos = jaw + Greek,lepis = scale (Ref. 45335).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 17 m (Ref. 92171). Tropical
Western Indian Ocean: restricted to the Red Sea (Ethiopia, Israel), Gulf of Aqaba and Persian Gulf (Saudi Arabia), including Oman and Egypt.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 4.3 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 92171)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 11; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 10 - 12. This species is of moderate-size with cycloid scales on head and pectoral fin base, predorsal midline usually naked, distinct flap present at end of lower lip; body color when alive is whitish with finely speckled dorsum, characteristic vertical oval blackish to dark grey blotch across caudal fin base, two broad ladderlike orange to reddish stripes along body and oblique black curved or comma-shaped mark on top of eye; second dorsal and anal fin rays nearly always I,11; pectoral rays 15-17 (modally 16); lateral scales 25-28 (modally 26); predorsal scales 7-10 (usually 8) (Ref. 92171).
Very little information is available re this fish, photographed over white to blackish sand. This species has been shown to exhibit red fluorescence on the dorsal half of the eye, assumed to be part of a 'private communication system' as the fluorescence occurs in features that are used for intra-specific signals, especially the eyes (Ref. 92171).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Larson, H.K. and D.J. Buckle, 2012. A revision of the goby genus Gnatholepis Bleeker (Teleostei, Gobiidae, Gobionellinae), with description of a new species. Zootaxa 3529:1-69. (Ref. 92171)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 24.8 - 29.2, mean 27.9 °C (based on 297 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5010 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00933 (0.00494 - 0.01763), b=3.03 (2.86 - 3.20), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & (Sub)family-body (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.2 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
