TAXONOMY
Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-likes)
Family: Gobiidae (Gobies)

Genus/species: Valenciennea puellaris

Maiden GobyIMG_8532

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Pale grey body color for Pacific fish with row of large orange spots on side, a series of dash-like markings below, oblong pale blue spots on cheek and opercle.  Length : 20.0 cm (7.8 inches).

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Tropical marine Indo-Pacific: red Sea to Samoa, north to southern Japan, south to the Great Barrier Reef.
Inhabits sandy areas of clear lagoon and seaward reefs.

DIET IN THE WILD: Carnivore feedings off the bottom sifting through the sand. Once the fish has a mouthful of sand, it begins to slowly expel the sand out the gills for any small invertebrates.

REPRODUCTION: Monogamous

CONSERVATION: IUCN; Not evaluated

REMARKS: Occurs in pairs and use burrows as refuge.

References

WordPress shortlink  http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-1hc

flickr  https://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/14047101767/

fishbase www.fishbase.org/summary/Valenciennea-puellaris.html

eol eol.org/pages/207103/details