Neon goby (Elacatinus oceanops)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Elacatinus oceanops
- Common name
- Neon goby
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Gobiidae
- Genus
- Elacatinus
- Size
- 4–5 cm
- Depth
- 1–40 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- coral-reef
- Behaviours
- solitary, pair, cleaner
- Ocean zones
- Caribbean, Eastern Pacific
Description
Elacatinus oceanops reaches 5 cm. Small emblematic cleaner goby with uniform black body crossed by two longitudinal bright electric blue bands starting from snout. Lives from 1 to 40 m often perched on brain corals (Cerebros) and Pseudoceres forming cleaning stations on coral reefs of Caribbean and Florida. Specialized cleaner of client fish (Cephalopholis, Lutjanus, Holocentridae). In pairs or small groups. Iconic photo subject of Caribbean cleaning symbiosis.
Photo of Neon goby
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Neon goby?
- Neon goby (Elacatinus oceanops) reaches 4–5 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Neon goby?
- Neon goby is found between 1–40 m deep.
- Is the Neon goby dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Neon goby?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Neon goby?
- Found in: Caribbean, Eastern Pacific.
Other species in the genus Elacatinus
- Elacatinus randalli - Yellowprow goby
- Elacatinus genie - Cleaning goby
- Elacatinus evelynae - Sharknose goby
- Elacatinus puncticulatus - Redhead goby
Other species in the family Gobiidae
- Coryphopterus glaucofraenum - Bridled goby
- Gnatholepis thompsoni - Goldspot goby
- Priolepis hipoliti - Rusty goby
- Gobius cruentatus - Red-mouthed goby
- Gobius bucchichi - Bucchich's goby
- Gobius vittatus - Striped goby
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 280616)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2376717)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia