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Valenciennea wardii (Playfair, 1867) Ward's sleeper |
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photo by
Greenfield, J. |
| Family: | Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobiinae | |||
| Max. size: | 15 cm SL (male/unsexed) | |||
| Environment: | reef-associated; marine; depth range 5 - 88 m | |||
| Distribution: | Indo-Pacific: extremely rare, known from widely scattered localities in the Indian Ocean and western tropical Pacific. | |||
| Diagnosis: | Dorsal spines (total): 6-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-12; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 11-12. Characterized by pale grey to whitish body color with three brown bars on side; blue-white band below eye; first dorsal fin with ocellated black spot; presence of narrow dark brown saddles below anterior part of second dorsal fin and dorsally on caudal peduncle; brown with narrow blue margin, outer half of caudal fin; without filamentous dorsal spines; rounded caudal fin, equal or slightly shorter than head; longitudinal scale series 70-88; ctenoid body scales, becoming cycloid anteriorly in front of first dorsal fin; head or midline of nape without scales; side of nape with scales extending forward slightly anterior to opening of gill; pectoral fin base and prepelvic area usually scaled; depth of body 5.0-5.5 in SL (Ref. 90102). | |||
| Biology: | Found in sandy areas of shallow lagoon reefs. Inhabits coastal bays and inner reefs, usually on deep silty slopes from about 15 meters down (Ref. 48637). Occurs in pairs (Ref. 90102). | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 11 March 2015 Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||