Stonogobiops dracula Polunin & Lubbock, 1977
Dracula shrimp-goby
Stonogobiops dracula
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobiinae
Max. size:  7 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 15 - 37 m
Distribution:  Western Indian Ocean: Seychelles, Maldives.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-10; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 9-9; Vertebrae: 26-26. Eyes and mouth large. Head yellow anteriorly and dorsally, white posteriorly; broad, diagonal bar from ventroposterior part of head to nape; 5 head pores. White interspaces on body bisected by orange-red line. First dark bar of body continued into the first, round dorsal fin; 2nd dorsal, anal and caudal fins pale whitish. Pectoral fins pointed. No scales on thorax and pectoral base. Angle of jaws 35 degrees. Palatines with tooth-like processes. Longitudinal scale series 84-94, transverse 26-32. Naked median predorsal region.
Biology:  Inhabits open sand and rubble zones adjacent to reefs (Ref. 30404). Occurs in pairs and hovers above the burrow entrance. Lives symbiotically with Alpheus randalli (Ref. 9360).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 28 June 2018 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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