Priolepis cincta explained

Priolepis cincta, commonly known as the girdled goby, is a species of goby fish described by Regan in 1908.

Distribution

Its distributional range extends from the Red Sea to Tonga, then from Japan to the Great Barrier Reef.^[1] It can be found in brackish water and salt water, with a depth range of 1 – 70 metres (3 ft - 229 ft), although it is usually seen at depths of 1 – 30 metres (3 ft - 98 ft).^{[2] [3]}

Behaviour

The fish is a benthic spawner. They tend to hide in caves and crevices, and can also be found in corals.^[4] It is a monogamous fish and are an average length of 7 centimetres.^{[5] [6]} The species is used in aquarium commercial use by humans.

Etymology

The name Priolepis is combined from two words from the Greek Language: prio is translated as "to saw" while lepis means "scale". cincta derives from the Latin word cinctum which can translate to either a girdle or bird, which is in reference to its colour pattern.^[7]

References

• Girdled Reefgoby, Priolepis cincta (Regan 1908) @ fishesofaustralia.net.au

Notes and References

1. Winterbottom. Richard. Burridge. Mary. Revision of Indo-Pacific species possessing a reduced transverse pattern of cheek papillae, and predorsal scales (Teleostei; Gobiidae). Canadian Journal of Zoology. October 1993. 71. 10. 2056–2076. 10.1139/z93-291.
2. Book: John E. Randall. Gerald R. Allen. Roger C. Steene. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. 1997. University of Hawaii Press. Honolulu. 978-0824818951. 506. Rev. and expanded.
3. Book: Kuiter. Rudie H.. Coastal fishes of south-eastern Australia. 1993. Univ. of Hawaii Press u.a.. Honolulu. 978-0824815233. 437.
4. Book: Myers. Ewald Lieske ; Robert. Coral reef fishes : Caribbean, Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean ; including the Red Sea. 1996. HarperCollins. London [u.a.]. 978-0002199742. 400. 1. ed., repr. with corr..
5. Whiteman. EA. Côte. IM. Monogamy in marine fishes.. Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society. May 2004. 79. 2. 351–75. 15191228. 10.1017/s1464793103006304. 22149575.
6. Kulbicki. M.. Mou Tham. G.. Thollot. P.. Wantiez. L.. Length-weight relationships of fish from the lagoon of New Caledonia. Naga, the ICLARM Quarterly. 1993. 16. 2–3. 26–30. 24 January 2015. 0116-290X.
7. Web site: Priolepis cincta (Regan, 1908). FishBase - Academia Sinica. 24 January 2015.