Flame Goby

The spikefin goby, scientifically known as Discordipinna griessingeri, is a small and vividly colored marine fish belonging to the family Gobiidae. Commonly referred to as the spikefin goby or flaming prawn goby, this species can sometimes be erroneously labeled as "Stonogobiops griessingeri," a name that does not officially exist. The fish is widespread across reefs in the western tropical Pacific, including regions such as Hawai'i and Polynesia, as well as the 🌊 Indian Ocean and the 🌊 Red Sea. It is sometimes collected for the exotic aquarium trade.

This diminutive fish reaches a maximum length of approximately 3 cm (about 1.2 inches). Its striking coloration consists of a mostly white body adorned with narrow orange stripes along the dorsal half and orange caudal fins. The face features distinctive brown spots. The dorsal fin is highly pronounced, with the first two spines significantly elongated. The pectoral fin rays are also elongated, with filamentous tips, and the pelvic fins are united to form a disc that extends to the origin of the anal fin.

The spikefin goby's body is covered in scales, with ctenoid scales posteriorly and cycloid scales anteriorly. It is characterized by intricate details such as a pointed caudal fin and specific fin ray counts: five to six spiny rays in the dorsal fin, seven to eight soft rays, and a single spiny ray in the anal fin with eight soft rays. The species is adapted to living in coral-rich environments, usually at depths ranging from 2 to 45 meters (6.6 to 148 feet), although it is more commonly found between 2 and 15 meters (6.6 to 49 feet).

Known for its secretive nature, the spikefin goby dwells in crevices and pockets within coral reefs and is not associated with burrows or prawns. The name Discordipinna derives from Latin, where "discors" means "different," and "pinna" implies "fin," indicating the fish's distinctive dorsal and pectoral fin structure. The species was named in honor of Mr. S. Griessinger, who collected one of the paratype specimens. The spikefin goby is found across the Indo-Pacific region, from the 🌊 Red Sea to the Marquesan Islands, including areas such as 🇯🇵 Japan, 🇹🇼 Taiwan, the 🇵🇭 Philippines, 🇲🇾 Malaysia, and 🇮🇩 Indonesia.