Amblyeleotris steinitzi (Klausewitz, 1974)
Steinitz' prawn-goby
Amblyeleotris steinitzi
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobiinae
Max. size:  13 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; brackish; marine; depth range 2 - 43 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to Samoa, north to the Yaeyama Islands, south to the Great Barrier Reef; throughout Micronesia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-12; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 12-12. Differs from A. wheeleri by having dull brown bars and more lateral scale rows (Ref. 1602). Characterized by yellow-white body color with five brown bars on head and body; usually with narrow orange bars on lower half of side in between each brown bar; dorsal fins with tiny yellow spots; pelvic fins basally joined by membranes; head and midline of nape without scales; longitudinal scale series 72-78; greatest depth of body 4.3-5.5 in SL; rounded caudal fin, slightly longer than head (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Inhabits sandy areas of outer lagoon and seaward reefs, with a pale brown or marbled brown and white alpheid shrimp (Ref. 1602). Also found in estuaries and usually at moderate depth of about 20 meters on deeper slopes (Ref. 48637).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 25 June 2018 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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