Elacatinus oceanops

Neongrundel ( Elacatinus oceanops )

The Neongrundel ( Elacatinus oceanops ) is a small marine fish, which is found in the coral reefs of the Caribbean, Florida and the Bahamas over the Gulf of Mexico to Belize.

Features

The Neongrundel is only 3.5 inches long. Your body is elongated and shows a striking blue strip that starts from the eyes and extends to the sides of the body to the tail fin. Above and below the blue stripe bordered by black stripes. The belly is whitish.

• Fins formula: Dorsal VII-VIII/10-13, Anal I/9-12.

Way of life

The Neongrundel takes as related species in the genus Elacatinus, the ecological role of Putzerlippfische from the Indo-Pacific, which are missing in the Atlantic. It also resembles in its drawing the Putzerlippfischen. They maintain solid cleaning stations on raised coral blocks at depths up to 40 meters and live singly, in pairs or in large groups of up to 30 animals. They feed on the parasitic small crustaceans that they eat their "customers" of the skin. The diurnal fish hide at night in their coral hideout. Gobies are monogamous.