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🌊 Marine Data Deficient 🐠 Aquarium 🌡️ Subtropical

Emperor reefgoby

Priolepis akihitoi Hoese & Larson, 2010
Max Length
5.3 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
3.2
Depth
3–25 m
Climate
Subtropical
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
12.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
reef

📖 Overview

Emperor reefgoby (Priolepis akihitoi), first described by Hoese & Larson, 2010 is a small fish in the family Gobiidae (order Gobiiformes). Adults typically reach 5.30 cm in maximum length. It inhabits marine coastal and open-ocean environments. Recorded depth range: 3 to 25 metres. It occurs in Subtropical waters. It is broadly omnivorous, taking invertebrates, plant matter, and detritus. On the IUCN Red List, it is classified as Data Deficient.The species is kept in the aquarium hobby. Care requirements and behaviour align broadly with other Gobiidae kept in the hobby.

Scientific Name
Priolepis akihitoi
Authority
Hoese & Larson, 2010
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Subtropical
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
IUCN Status
DD
Max Length
5.3 cm
Depth Range
3–25 m
Trophic Level
3.2
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
12.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 8. This species is distinguished by the following characters: eyes slightly elevated resulting in a shallow pit in interorbital area and a shallow groove along dorsoposterior margin of eye; ctenoid scales completely covering predorsal, reaching to above mideye, anteriormost scales sometimes cycloid, no naked patch immediately before the first dorsal spine; small cycloid scales cover pectoral base; 11-13 rows of small cycloid scales cover prepelvic area; cheek usually no scales, rarely with 1 or 2 scales near dorsoposterior margin of preoperculum; operculum with a patch of small ctenoid scales dorsally; usually, D2 I,10, A I,8, pectoral rays 20; sensory papilla rows on cheek with transverse pattern; pelvic fins connected to form a plate, no interspinal membrane; head and body with narrow light bands, and with dark edges; a large elongate black spot anteriorly on first dorsal fin; 3-4 short vertical dark brown bars on dorsal part of caudal fin; mouth oblique, forming an angle of about 40°-45° with body axis .: fusiform / normal.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Emperor reefgoby is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

aquatic invertebrates
small fish
algae
detritus

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous 📦 Batch Spawner
Spawning Season
spring-summer
Spawn Location
Pelagic
Fertilization
External

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 3 - 25 m . Subtropical East Indo-West Pacific: Japan to Australia (WA to NSW), and New Caledonia.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🪸 Reef Associated
Trophic Level
3.2±0.3

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.01023 × L3.01 (TL)
Max TL
5.3cm
Dorsal Spines
7
Dorsal Rays
10
Anal Spines
1
Anal Rays
8

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Data Deficient
Assessment Date
2015

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
High
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
12.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.2
Predator
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Described By
Hoese & Larson, 2010

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