Gobiodon irregularis Herler, Bogorodsky & Suzuki, 2013

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 : 168

Gobiodon irregularis Herler, Bogorodsky & Suzuki, 2013 : Rufous Coralgoby

Synonyms or described as: No recorded synonyms.

Description: Gobiodon irregularis has a distinct adult and juvenile colouration. Adults are typically red-brown to orange-brown in body and fin colouration ( Figure 18 ). Dark brown dots are visible along the nape and dorsal half of the body. Remnants of pale bluish bars on either side of the eye are sometimes visible, occasionally extending into the suborbital area. Juveniles are translucent green in colour with seven broad red bars on the head and pectoral-fin base. A transitional subadult phase has also been described ( Herler, Bogorodsky and Suzuki, 2013), often greenish brown in colouration with small red spots and irregular short lines on nape and dorsal area with some suborbital head bars still visible.

Distribution: Gobiodon irregularis has been observed in the Gulf of Aqaba and both the northern and southern Red Sea ( Herler, Bogorodsky and Suzuki, 2013; GBIF.Org, 2024). An observation from Rodrigues in the western Indian Ocean has also been recorded ( Herler, Bogorodsky and Suzuki, 2013).

Habitat: Gobiodon irregularis has been described as a host generalist and has been recorded inhabiting a wide range of Acropora corals ( Herler, Bogorodsky and Suzuki, 2013). However, on the reefs in the Red Sea, the species has been observed inhabiting the corymbose and caespitose corals A. samoensis , A. valida and A. secale at a higher frequency ( Herler, Bogorodsky and Suzuki, 2013). The species is typically observed in deeper water such as the lower reef slope and fore reef ( Herler, Bogorodsky and Suzuki, 2013).

Status: Gobiodon irregularis is listed as of ‘Least Concern’ on the IUCN Red List ( Larson, 2019e).

Sociality: Gobiodon irregularis has not been included in any studies focusing on sociality.

Genetics: Gobiodon irregularis has been included in a number of genetic analyses, and the closest phylogenetic neighbour is G. oculolineatus ( Duchene et al., 2013) . The species resides in a clade alongside other endemic Red Sea species such as G. bilineatus and G. reticulatus , as well as the more widespread G. quinquestrigatus , G. spadix , G. rivulatus and G. oculolineatus ( Duchene et al., 2013; Herler, Bogorodsky and Suzuki, 2013).

Figures

FIGURE 18. LEFT: Illustration of Gobiodon irregularis by C. Hildebrandt. RIGHT: Photograph of collected Gobiodon irregularis by V. N. Peinemann from the Red Sea.