Unknown Goby

Hi

My first photo post, hope I get it right!

There were two of these gobies, the other half in the hole behind it. This is the best shot I got before they both ducked into the hole. We were at about 25 meters at 7 mile reef, Sodwana, South A frica. I can't find it in any of my books but suspect it must be a Cryptocentrus.

Hi David,

It seems to behave like a goby with a sand burrow but its head is also somewhat blenny-like (looks like it has very short cirrhi). May be worth flipping through the blenny pages of your ID book, just in case.

Bart

Hi David,

I passed your image on to Gerald Allen. He didn't recognize it (and if anyone would, he would), but thought it "might be a species of Flabellogobius. There are several undescribed species in that genus."

Cheers,

Marli

The same species shows up on the South African East Coast Fish Watch Project page http://fishwatch.tripod.com/REPORTS/reportjun2003.htm

The goby experts cited there felt it was an undescribed species in Vanderhorstia or Tomiyamichthys

A very auspicious first post, indeed!

Cheers,

Marli

Thanks a lot everybody! Following Leslie's link to East Coast Fish Watch I found a this link http://saiab.ru.ac.za/image_coll/FinalResu...jpg&recno=7 To a Vanderhorstia praealta photographed in Maldives. They look very similar. I will send the photo on to East Coast Fish Watch and see what I get.

Cheers

David