Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Gobiiformes (Gobies) >
Gobiidae (Gobies) > Gobiinae
Etymology: opercularis: Named opercularis due to its prominent black spot on the opercle (Ref. 59177).
Eponymy: Professor Cornelius Jan van der Horst (1889–1951) was a Dutch zoologist who moved to South Africa (1928) and became Head of the Zoology Department, Witwatersrand University, Johannesburg. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Randall.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 27 - 40 m (Ref. 59177). Tropical
Western Indian Ocean: Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 5.1 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 59177)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 12. This species is distinguished by the following characters: D VI-I,12; A I,12; pectoral rays 18-20; scales in longitudinal series on body 40; scales ctenoid posteriorly, cycloid anteriorly; head or prepectoral area without scales, those posteriorly on nape embedded and difficult to count; body depth 4.85-5.5 in SL; third dorsal spine of male filamentous, 2.35-2.95 in SL; caudal fin pointed and long, 1.95 in SL (in paratype; appears to have been injured and regenerating in holotype); paired fins extending beyond origin of anal fin; body with four dusky bars, each with a large darker spot; an oblique blackish bar from nape across posterior head containing a black spot on opercle; numerous small pale spots (orange-yellow in life) on head, body, and fins except pectorals (Ref. 59177).
Associated with alpheid shrimps, sharing the same burrow maintained by the shrimp (generally as a pair) and guarded by the goby (Ref. 59177).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Randall, J.E., 2007. Vanderhorstia opercularis, a new shrimp goby from the northern Red Sea. Electronic J. Ichthyol.3(1):18-25. (Ref. 59177)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Human uses
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00724 (0.00339 - 0.01546), b=3.10 (2.92 - 3.28), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.2 ±0.3 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
