Bluecoral Ghostgoby, Pleurosicya coerulea Larson 1990


Other Names: Blue Coral Ghost Goby, Bluecoral Ghost Goby

A Bluecoral Ghostgoby, Pleurosicya coerulea, at Guam. Source: David Burdick / http://guamreeflife.com. License: All rights reserved

Summary:
A small translucent goby with an overall brown to bluish hue, blending in well with background. The species lives exclusively in association with the blue coral Heliopora coerulea. 

Cite this page as:
Dianne J. Bray, Pleurosicya coerulea in Fishes of Australia, accessed 28 Mar 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/2264

Bluecoral Ghostgoby, Pleurosicya coerulea Larson 1990

More Info


Distribution

Recorded in Australia from Rowley Shoals, Western Australia, to Ashmore Reef, Timor Sea, and from the northern Great Barrier Reef to NE of Townsville, Queensland. Occurs elsewhere in the tropical, east-Indo-west-central Pacific.

Inhabits coral reefs, living exclusively in association with the Blue Coral, Heliopora coerulea.

Features

Dorsal fin VI + I, 7-9; Anal fin I, 8-9; Pectoral fin 15-18; Longitudinal sale series 22-25.
Body relatively deep, depth at anus 3.8-6.9 in SL; nape without scales; gill opening restricted to pectoral-fin base or slightly forward of base. 

Species Citation

Pleurosicya coerulea Larson, 1990, The Beagle 7(1): 20, fig. 16. Type locality: Japtan Island, Eniwetok, Marshall Islands. 

Author

Dianne J. Bray

Bluecoral Ghostgoby, Pleurosicya coerulea Larson 1990

References


Allen, G.R. & Erdmann, M.V. 2012. Reef fishes of the East Indies. Perth : Tropical Reef Research 3 vols, 1260 pp.

Larson, H.K. 1990. A revision of the commensal gobiid fish genera Pleusosicya and Luposicya (Gobiidae), with descriptions of eight new species of Pleusosicya and discussion of related genera. The Beagle, Records of the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory 7(1): 1-53 figs 1-29 pls 1-3

Myers, R.F. 1999. Micronesian Reef Fishes. A comprehensive guide to the coral reef fishes of Micronesia. Guam : Coral Graphics vi 330 pp. 192 pls. 

Randall, J.E. 2005. Reef and shore fishes of the South Pacific. New Caledonia to Tahiti and the Pitcairn Islands. Honolulu : University of Hawaii Press 707 pp.

Quick Facts


CAAB Code:37428227

Behaviour:Lives only on Blue Coral

Depth:1-10 m

Habitat:Reef associated

Max Size:2.2 cm SL

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Species Maps

CAAB distribution map