Pale Sandgoby

Description

This sandgoby is a small sized fish, it can grow up to a size of 60 millimetres (2.4 in) length. It is characterized by semi-translucent grey body with numerous small, dusky-edged yellow spots on head, body, caudal and dorsal fins. It has red cheeks. It has a presence of black spot near margin of first membrane of spinous dorsal fin. It has fully united pelvic fins. It has a presence of pelvic frenum; rounded caudal fin; longitudinal scale series 26; mainly ctenoid scales including those on side of nape; cycloid scales on breast, base of pectoral fin and anteroventrally on abdomen; scales absent on operculum; absence of median predorsal scales; opening of gill extending to within one-fifth opercle width from posterior edge of preopercle; depth of body 4.6-5.4 in SL. Dorsal spines (total): 6 - 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 8.

Distribution

The pale sandgoby is widespread throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-West Pacific from the eastern coast of Africa to the Philippines.

Habitat

It inhabits sand-rubble bottoms near reefs.