Fusigobius gracilis (Randall, 2001)
Slender sandgoby
Fusigobius gracilis
photo by Greenfield, J.

Family:  Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobiinae
Max. size:  4.19 cm SL (male/unsexed); 3.03 cm SL (female)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 6 - 18 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Ryukyu Islands to the Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia, east to Fiji.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 8-8; Vertebrae: 26-26. Diagnosis: Dorsal rays VI - I,9. Anal rays 1,8. Pectoral rays 17-19 (usually 18). Longitudinal scale series 25. Head naked except for scales on side of nape reaching nearly to above upper end of preopercular margin; posterior nostril not close to orbit. The body is slender, depth 5.45-5.75 in SL; snout length 3.0-3.4 in head; first dorsal fin not higher than second; second dorsal spine usually longest, 5.35-5.8 in SL. Pelvic fins fully joined medially by membrane (when intact); pelvic frenum absent. Body translucent with numerous very small orange-yellow spots with blackish centers on head and body, those on head arranged in oblique rows; a black spot the size of pupil or smaller at midbase of caudal fin; a second smaller blackish spot just above base of pectoral fin; dorsal and caudal fins with orange-yellow spots; a dusky orange line from upper part of first membrane of first dorsal fin to base of second spine (Ref. 41649).
Biology:  Inhabits sand-rubble bottoms next to reefs in 6-18 m (Ref. 90102).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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