Page 99 - Caribbean Reef Life Demo

ORANGESPOTTED GOBY
(Nes longus) < 10 cm / 4 in
Pairs of dark patches run down the body, often forming ars. ar ands on the tail. lon ated rst dorsal s ine.
An unlikely partnership exists between the Orangespotted oby and the Sand Snapping Shrimp p. 215 ; they are roommates. The goby lives and feeds in open sandy areas where there is little shelter, so the shrimp makes a home for both of them. This sandy burrow is in need of constant upkeep, and the shrimp pushes sand and debris out of the hole. It always keeps at least one of its antennae on the goby’s body as it does so. The goby outside acts as a sentinel, rapidly uttering its tail if danger is near. The goby gets a safe place to live as payment for this guard duty.
The pelvic ns of gobies are usually fused to form a rounded suction disc, similar to those found on sharksuckers. It is used to anchor them down onto the reef. Some species of goby will spend most of their lives hanging upside down under ledges and overhangs using these modi ed ns.
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