Two Lined Coralgoby

This species is distinguished by the following characters: D VI+I,10-11; A I,8-9 (usually 9); head and body naked; body slightly compressed and relatively elongate (body depth at pelvic-fin origin 36-40% SL), dorso-ventrally symmetrical; distance between D1 insertion and dorsal insertion of pectoral-fin 53-71% of head length; rounded head with upper lip curved; small mouth, upper jaw extending to anterior margin of the eye; groove between isthmus and interopercle absent; caudal peduncle deep (minimal depth 16.3-17.9% SL); caudal fin relatively short (21.7-23.2% SL). Colour of juveniles and subadults light greenish or reddish with 5 vertical blue lines on head while adults are usually uniformly orange-red or dark red, sometimes with remnants of lines on the head but always with 2 distinct bluish lines through the eyes, sometimes extending ventrally to suborbital area; dorsal and anal fin usually with a narrow light bluish band along bases, fading with growth (Ref. 94082).

Dorsal spines (total): 6; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 11; Analspines: 1; Analsoft rays: 8; Vertebrae: 26

Usually occupies the reef slope and fore reef areas and often in large colonies of Acropora samoensis but also present in Acropora secale and A. gemmifera in northern Red Sea (Ref. 94082).