Y Bar Shrimp Goby

Mostly black with fine pale spotting or white saddles over top of head and back; sometimes yellow (Ref. 30404); further characterized by variable coloration ranging from yellow, entirely blackish, or barred or mottled; dorsal fins unmarked; barred variety with four brown saddles, head with white or bluish streaks, plain dorsal fins, pelvic fins with blue spots, blue stripe on anal fin; saddled variety dark brown color with whitish saddles on top of head and along back; head with small white or blue spots or streaks, pelvic fins with blue spots, blue stripes on anal fins; mottled variety with four diffuse brown bars on side; lower operculum with large brown blotch, head with white to bluish spots, strong mottling on back, anal fin with blue stripes; united pelvic fins, presence of frenum; longitudinal scale series 77-92; absence of scales on head except a few scales dorsally on opercle; greatest depth of body 5.5-5.8 in SL; rounded caudal fin, 3.2-3.8 in SL (Ref. 90102).

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

Found on sand near patch reefs, usually in 5 m but to at least 15 m (Ref. 9710). Found in burrows with alpheid shrimps (Ref. 2334). Two individuals sometimes share a burrow, and these may be one of each color (Ref. 9360). Occurs in clear coastal and inner reef sand slopes, in small colonies in depth of 6-20 meters (Ref. 48637).

aquarium: commercial

The Y-bar shrimpgoby (Cryptocentrus fasciatus) is a species of goby widespread in the Indo-West-Pacific from East Africa to Melanesia and the Great Barrier Reef. This species can be found on reefs at depths of from 5 to 20 metres (16 to 66 ft) where they live in burrows in sandy substrates. They are symbiotic with alpheid shrimps. This species can reach a length of 14 centimetres (5.5 in) TL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.