Emperor Reefgoby

This species is distinguished by the following characters: eyes slightly elevated resulting in a shallow pit in interorbital area and a shallow groove along dorsoposterior margin of eye; ctenoid scales completely covering predorsal, reaching to above mideye, anteriormost scales sometimes cycloid, no naked patch immediately before the first dorsal spine; small cycloid scales cover pectoral base; 11-13 rows of small cycloid scales cover prepelvic area; cheek usually no scales, rarely with 1 or 2 scales near dorsoposterior margin of preoperculum; operculum with a patch of small ctenoid scales dorsally; usually, D2 I,10, A I,8, pectoral rays 20; sensory papilla rows on cheek with transverse pattern; pelvic fins connected to form a plate, no interspinal membrane; head and body with narrow light bands, and with dark edges; a large elongate black spot anteriorly on first dorsal fin; 3-4 short vertical dark brown bars on dorsal part of caudal fin; mouth oblique, forming an angle of about 40°-45° withbody axis (Ref. 85603).

Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Analspines: 1; Analsoft rays: 8