The Luther's Shrimpgoby, scientifically known as Cryptocentrus lutheri, is a reef-associated marine fish found in tropical waters. It inhabits depths ranging from 1 to 12 meters (approximately 3 to 39 feet). This small fish can grow up to a maximum length of 11 centimeters (about 4.3 inches).
The Luther's Shrimpgoby is visually distinctive, with its head adorned in rows of blue oval spots. Its body features dark brown bars with blue dots on the underside. This species typically resides on sandy and rubble-strewn ocean floors.
Notably, the Luther's Shrimpgoby lives in a symbiotic relationship with alpheid shrimps, a mutualistic partnership where both species benefit from each other's presence. This goby is found in the 🌊 Western Indian Ocean, particularly from the 🌊 Red Sea to the 🌊 Persian Gulf, and it has been reported in locations such as Tanzania.
The name Cryptocentrus comes from the Greek words "kryptos," meaning hidden, and "kentron," meaning sting, reflecting some aspect of the fish's behavior or appearance.
Why it's threatened
Threat classification from the IUCN Red List.
