Bryaninops natans Larson, 1985

Suzuki, Toshiyuki, Bogorodsky, Sergey V. & Randall, John E., 2012, Gobiid fishes of the genus Bryaninops from the Red Sea, with description of two new species and two new records, Zootaxa 3170, pp. 1-17 : 12-13

Bryaninops natans Larson, 1985

Figure 12

Bryaninops natans Larson, 1985: 77 , figs. 10–12 (type locality, Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef). Bryaninops natans Herler and Hilgers, 2005: 105 , fig. 1 (Gulf of Aqaba).

Diagnosis. Dorsal-fin rays VI + I,7-1,9 (usually I,8); anal-fin rays I,8 or I,9 (usually I,9); pectoral-fin rays usually 14–16; scales on body extending forward at most to below interdorsal space, the longitudinal scale series 19–40 (mean count 31); canine tooth present on side of lower jaw; head and body compressed; body depth at origin of anal fin 16–25% SL; snout usually shorter than orbit diameter; gill opening reaching to or anterior to posterior margin of orbit; caudal fin usually slightly emarginate; pelvic fins forming a shallow cup, the spines as fleshy lobes; body transparent in life, except for yellow over abdomen; interorbital and iris bright pink. Largest specimen, 19.5 mm SL.

Distribution. A wide-ranging Indo-Pacific species from the Cook Islands and Caroline Islands to the islands of the western Indian Ocean and throughout the Red Sea.

Remarks. Reported from lagoon and seaward reefs at depths of 7– 33 m. Usually seen in small aggregations feeding on zooplankton a few cm above live coral of the genus Acropora , including A. loripes and A. squarrosa in the Red Sea. Often rests on tips of coral branches, moving basally among the branches when threatened. Its mode of life has earned the common name of Hovering Goby.

Figures

FIGURE 12. Bryaninops natans, Brayka Bay, Marsa Alam, Egypt. Photo by S. V. Bogorodsky.