Parioglossus formosus (Smith, 1931)
Beautiful hover goby
photo by Winterbottom, R.

Family:  Microdesmidae (Wormfishes), subfamily: Ptereleotrinae
Max. size:  4.5 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 15 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Gulf of Thailand to Fiji, north to Yayaema Islands, south to northwestern Australia and the southern Great Barrier Reef.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 6-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-15; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 13-15. Description: Characterized by pale grey body color; pale yellow stripe from eye to upper caudal fin base; presence of narrow blackish stripe middorsally from interorbital to upper edge of caudal fin base and continued onto caudal fin; broad black stripe on snout to lower caudal fin base, continued onto caudal fin; longitudinal scale series 66-78; head pores present around top and rear margin of each eye and two opercular pores (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Occurs in shallow coastal reefs and mangrove-lined inlets. Hovers in schools among branching corals or mangroves to a depth of about 4 meters.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 14 September 2011 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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