Needlespine Coralgoby

Only species in the genus with a filamentous first dorsal spine. (Ref. 37816); characterized by yellowish-brown to black color including fins; triangular first dorsal fin, prolonged and filamentous at apex; absence of scales; complete pelvic fin frenum and basal membrane; pelvic fin reaching anus; depth of body at pelvic fin level 2.0-2.5 in SL (Ref. 90102).

Dorsal spines (total): 6 - 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 11; Analspines: 1; Analsoft rays: 9

Inhabits shallow sheltered backreef areas where it occurs among the branches of Porites cylindrica. Specimens were collected from coral-enclosed area and reef bordering eelgrass flat (Ref. 13690).

Specimens were collected from coral-enclosed area and reef bordering eel-grass flat (Ref. 13690). Also found among branches of hard corals including Echinopora horrida, E.mammiformis and Hydnophora rigida (Ref 90102).

Gobiodon acicularis, the needlespine coral goby, is a species of goby native to the western central Pacific Ocean where it is an inhabitant of tropical coral reefs and eelgrass beds from Indonesia to Palau. It grows to a length of 3.9 centimetres (1.5 in) SL.