Soft Coral Ghostgoby

The Soft Coral Goby (Pleurosicya boldinghi) is a small fish (it reaches a length of around 3.5 cm) that is known from Japan, New Guinea, Indonesia, and the Great Barrier Reef in Australia from depths of around 20 to 127 m. This species is commensal with soft corals of the genus Dendronephthya (commensal organisms benefit from their association with a host, but there is no associated cost to the host, as there is in the case of parasitism). Randall et al. (1996) provide a technical morphological description of P. boldinghi. (Randall et al. 1996)

Characterized by semi-translucent body and fins, blend s well with soft coral or seapen; nape usually scaled to behind eyes; longitudinal scale series 22-25; wide gill opening, reaching forward to below posterior edge of eye; relatively deep bodied, depth of body at anus 3.8-5.8 in SL (Ref. 90102).

Dorsal spines (total): 6 - 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7; Analspines: 1; Analsoft rays: 6 - 8

Lives on Dendronephthya soft corals, usually at depth of 20 meters or more in areas subject to strong currents. Large corals may play host to several individuals (Ref. 48637). Also found with Sarcophyton soft corals and sea pens in 5-82 m (Ref 90102).