Vanderhorstia rapa Iwata, Shibukawa & Ohnishi 2007

This species differs from other congeners in having the following characters: 11 segmented rays on second dorsal fin; 33-35 longitudinal scale count; no predorsal scales; 11-12 transverse scale count from origin of second dorsal fin backward and downward to anal-fin base; naked pectoral-fin base; third spine of first dorsal fin longest, slightly elongate and filamentous; sensory-papillae row comprising four sensory papillae; a deep trough along posterior margin of eyes (Fig. 5B); first dorsal fin with numerous minute scattered yellow spots and no yellow submarginal lines; four faint brownish (tinged with yellow) mid-lateral blotches (rather than saddle-like bars) on body (Ref. 75057).

Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11; Analspines: 1; Analsoft rays: 11

Occurs in coarse sandy bottom around rubble area, and found to be symbiotically associated with the alpheid shrimps (Ref. 75057).