Black Coral Goby

The Black Coral Goby, scientifically known as Bryaninops tigris, is a tiny, tropical, marine fish found in the Indo-Pacific region. Measuring up to a maximum length of 2.5 cm (1 inch), it inhabits coral reefs at depths between 15 and 53 meters (49 and 174 feet). These gobies are closely associated with black corals of the genus Antipathes, often found living on isolated outcrops in areas with strong currents.

The Black Coral Goby has a slender, elongated body with a distinctive coloration. The upper two-fifths of its body are transparent, displaying six or seven narrow bars that may be yellow, dusky orange, or red, each with a small spot of the same color above. It features a white line along its vertebral column, while the lower three-fifths range from dusky to blackish orange.

In terms of anatomy, the goby has 6 to 7 dorsal spines and 7 dorsal soft rays, with 1 anal spine and 8 to 9 anal soft rays. Its fins are similarly adapted, with dorsal-fin rays typically in a configuration of VI + I,8, and anal-fin rays usually presenting as I,8 or I,9. The pectoral fins have 12 to 14 rays, usually 13. It has a unique mouth structure, with a slightly inferior position, and features a recurved canine tooth on each side of the lower jaw.

These gobies tend to live in small groups and exhibit intriguing reproductive behavior where males guard eggs laid on coral branches after removing the polyps. Black Coral Gobies are benthic, meaning they reside near the sea floor, and they often dart out to feed on small planktonic animals.

Their distribution spans several locations across the Indo-Pacific, including the Society Islands (🇵🇫 French Polynesia), Hawaiian Islands, Palau, 🇸🇧 Solomon Islands, Great Barrier Reef, Ryukyu Islands (🇯🇵 Japan), Gulf of Thailand, 🇮🇩 Indonesia, Chagos (🇮🇴 British Indian Ocean Territory) Archipelago, 🇲🇻 Maldives, and 🇴🇲 Oman. They have also been recorded in the 🌊 Red Sea from underwater photographs taken off Hurghada, 🇪🇬 Egypt.