Species: Elacatinus genie, Cleaner Goby

Elacatinus genie (Bohlke & Robins, 1968)

Cleaner Goby

Elongate; head compressed; mouth under pointed, shark-like snout; a deep groove separating upper lip and snout; teeth in upper jaw in 1 row, conical, no canines; teeth on lower jaw in three, spaced, transverse rows at front, narrowing to a single series on sides; a single enlarged, recurved canine, near midpoint on anterior, transverse portion of tooth patch in males only; tongue tip slightly emarginate, nearly truncate; gill membranes broadly joined to body under throat, with 5 rays; dorsal fin VII + I, 11 (10-11); length of 2nd dorsal base > distance from 2nd dorsal base to tail fin; anal fin I, 10 (10-11); pectoral fins 16-17 (16-18); pelvic fins I, 5, disk complete; tail rounded; no scales; no lateral line.

Dark grey-brown with a narrow bright yellow V on snout that continues as a stripe along mid-side well onto tail fin, stripe becomes whitish towards rear, widens near the second dorsal-fin origin.

Reaches 4.5 cm.

Habitat: Inhabits living coral heads and engages in cleaning behavior. Also found on rock substrate, often under ledges, and on the outer surface of sponges.

Depth: 1-30 m.

Bahamas and Cuba.