Steinitz Shrimpgoby

Amblyeleotris steinitzi, commonly known as Steinitz' prawn goby or simply Steinitz' goby, is a species of small fish in the Gobiidae family. It is distributed from the 🌊 Red Sea through the 🌊 Indian Ocean to the western 🌊 Pacific Ocean.

Steinitz' goby can reach a maximum length of 13 cm (5.1 in) and has distinct features such as protuberant eyes and a long narrow body. Its coloration is predominantly white with approximately five broad, transverse, reddish-brown bands, interspersed with fine pale yellow lines. The dorsal fin is adorned with small orange spots and consists of seven spines and twelve soft rays, while the anal fin has one spine and twelve soft rays.

This species inhabits shallow areas of the 🌊 Red Sea, the western 🌊 Indian Ocean, the Chagos (🇮🇴 British Indian Ocean Territory) Archipelago, 🇲🇺 Mauritius, the 🇲🇭 Marshall Islands, the 🇸🇨 Seychelles, southern 🇯🇵 Japan, and the Great Barrier Reef. It is commonly found on sandy bottoms in reef flats, outer lagoons, estuaries, and bays, at depths of up to 43 meters (141 ft).

Steinitz' goby shares a complex burrow system with alpheid shrimp, such as Alpheus purpurilenticularis or Alpheus djeddensis. While the goby does not participate in the excavation process, the shrimp is responsible for all the burrowing activities in sandy or silty areas of the seabed. The burrow typically has one or more openings, which may change position as the shrimp engages in excavation. The goby may create a new entrance by poking its head through the substrate from inside the burrow. Entrance locations can shift by up to 80 centimeters (31 in) per day, while the primary part of the burrow remains stable. The entrance may be reinforced with shell and coral fragments, especially before nightfall, but may collapse during the night. Both partners retreat inside the burrow during this time. In the morning, the shrimp is often observed removing sediment and depositing it nearby, while in the evening, sediment is brought into the burrow, potentially facilitating feeding during the night. During the day, the goby rests on the burrow floor, partially exposed to the opening, and may venture further away to forage. It feeds on small invertebrates dislodged by the shrimp or ingests mouthfuls of sediment, extracting any edible material. The shrimp primarily consumes detritus and is constantly stirring up the substrate. Due to its limited visual acuity, the shrimp relies on the goby's flick of its tail to alert it to approaching fish, prompting a rapid retreat. The goby is capable of distinguishing between predators, bottom-stirring fish that may harm the burrow, and non-threatening species, reacting appropriately. When the goby becomes startled and enters the burrow headfirst, the shrimp follows suit swiftly. Steinitz' goby exhibits territorial behavior, adjusting the location of its burrow entrance in response to aggression from neighboring gobies. During the breeding season, the entrance may be relocated closer to a burrow inhabited by a fish of the opposite sex. Additionally, the shrimp forms a long-lasting pair bond with a shrimp in an adjacent burrow.

The specific name and common name of this species are in honor of Heinz Steinitz (1909-1971), an 🇮🇱 Israeli marine biologist and herpetologist who founded the marine laboratory in Eilat, 🇮🇱 Israel, which bears his name. This laboratory is situated on the Gulf of Aqaba, an area where Steinitz' goby can be found.