Discotrema crinophilum Briggs, 1976
Crinoid clingfish
Discotrema crinophilum
photo by Brett, O.J. / www.tropicalfavourites.com

Family:  Gobiesocidae (Clingfishes and singleslits), subfamily: Diademichthyinae
Max. size:  5 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 8 - 20 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Ryukyu Islands, Bismarck Archipelago and the Fiji Islands. Recently reported from Christmas Island (Ref. 30874), Taiwan (Ref. 5193) and the Great Barrier Reef (Ref. 2334).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-9; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 7-8; Vertebrae: 35-35. Distinguished from its congeners by the following characters: pectoral ray count 23-28; head width 4.3-5.3 in SL; snout length 2.8-3.5 in HL; disc length 4.2-4.9 in SL; a mid-dorsal white or pale yellow stripe and a lateral stripe on head and body (Ref. 75094)
Biology:  Found in protected coastal reefs from shallow reef flats to about 20 m depth along slopes and walls (Ref. 48635). Found among arms of crinoids (Ref. 2334, 559) as a commensal particularly with Comanthus bennetti (Ref. 90102).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 13 March 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:  Reported from Balicasag Island (Ref. 75094). Also Ref. 90102.


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