Vanderhorstia papilio Shibukawa & Suzuki, 2004
Butterfly shrimpgoby
Vanderhorstia papilio
photo by Kuiter, R.H.

Family:  Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobiinae
Max. size:  4.09 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 5 - 55 m
Distribution:  Northwest Pacific: Ryukyu Is., Japan.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-11; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 11-11; Vertebrae: 26-26. This species is distinguished from its congeners in having the following set of characters: segmented dorsal-fin rays 11; segmented anal-fin rays 11; longitudinal scales 27; predorsal scales 11; third spine of first dorsal fin elongate, filamentous, and longer than the other spines; fifth and ninth branched caudal-fin rays elongate, filamentous, and forming bifurcate caudal fin; fifth and ninth branched rays each with a single branch; cephalic sensory-papillae row 'a' with 3 widely spaced papillae; numerous small yellow spots scattered on cheek, operculum, nape, body, and dorsal fins in fresh or live individuals; below the eye is a dusky yellowish brown vertical bar; body with 4 dark gray brown saddles, in addition to a similarly colored large blotch at midlateral caudal-fin base (Ref. 55718).
Biology:  A single specimen collected from a sandy-mud bottom at a depth of 45 m in a protected bay. Observed to be usually at 40-50 m depths (area with pebbles); the young at depths of 8 m to about 30 m, but apparently on rare occasions; the species symbiotically associates with alpheid shrimp (species name uncertain) (Ref. 55718).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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