Gobiodon quinquestrigatus (Valenciennes, 1837)

Hildebrandt, Courtney A., Froehlich, Catheline Y. M., Klanten, O. Selma & Wong, Marian Y. L., 2025, Goby spotting: An updated guide to coral gobies (Genus: Gobiodon) in the Indo-Pacific Region, Zootaxa 5723 (2), pp. 151-188 : 172

Gobiodon quinquestrigatus (Valenciennes, 1837) : Five Lined Coralgoby

Synonyms or described as: Gobius quinquestrigatus Valenciennes, 1837 .

Description: In the past there has been some confusion over the identification of G. quinquestrigatus , with a large number of visually similar species within the genus. Adults of G. quinquestrigatus typically have a dark brown body with a lighter head that may appear slightly red or orange in colour ( Figure 23 ). The most notable feature is the five bright blue vertical lines on the facial region. Some adults have been known to display a lighter green colouration, especially when placed under stress or low light levels ( Munday et al., 1999; Hildebrandt, pers. obs.). A lighter coloured variation has also been observed at northern Great Barrier Reef and Papua New Guinea locations, with the entire body displaying a lighter shade of the more typical head colour and taking on a more transparent appearance similar to G. prolixus (Froehlich pers. obs.). The body shape of G. quinquestrigatus is more fusiform with a more elongate body shaped compared to some of the more laterally compressed species, however, is still more laterally compressed than G. prolixus .

Distribution: Gobiodon quinquestrigatus has frequently been identified throughout the central and western Pacific Ocean and eastern Indian Ocean ( Munday et al., 1999; Froehlich et al., 2023; Hildebrandt, pers. obs.). Distribution does extend into the western Indian Ocean and Red Sea, though individuals of this species do not seem to be as prevalent (GBIF.Org, 2024).

Habitat: The species is known to inhabit a wide range of Acropora corals, most notably A. cerealis , A. millepora , A. humilis , A. gemmifera and A. valida ( Munday et al., 1999; Froehlich et al., 2023; Hildebrandt, pers. obs.). The recorded coral occupation suggests high variation in the growth form of host corals, including caespitose, corymbose and digitate.

Status: The conservation status for this species is listed as ‘Least Concern’ ( Larson, 2019h).

Sociality: Gobiodon quinquestrigatus is most frequently observed occupying corals as pairs (mean group size: 1.93, SI: 0.33–0.49) ( Hing et al., 2018; Hing, 2019; Froehlich et al., 2024).

Genetics: The sister species of G. quinquestrigatus is G. spadix , which is consistently observed as the neighbouring species on phylogenetic trees regardless of the genetic markers used ( Harold et al., 2008; Duchene et al., 2013; Herler, Bogorodsky and Suzuki, 2013; Hing et al., 2019). The clade with G. quinquestrigatus also includes G. spadix , G. rivulatus , G. oculolineatus , G. reticulatus , G. bilineatus and G. irregularis ( Harold et al., 2008; Duchene et al., 2013; Herler, Bogorodsky and Suzuki, 2013; Hing et al., 2019).

Figures

FIGURE 23. LEFT: Illustration of Gobiodon quinquestrigatus and the two-colour variations observed, by C. Hildebrandt. RIGHT: Photograph of collected Gobiodon quinquestrigatus by V. N. Peinemann in PNG.