Guardian goby

Amblyeleotris guttata

Amblyeleotris randalli

Amblyeleotris yanoi with popcorn

Yellow symbiosis root ( Cryptocentrus cinctus ) with the popcorn Alpheus bellulus

Goby
( Stonogobiops nematodes )

As Guardian - symbiosis - or Partnergrundeln fish are from the family of gobies called (Gobiidae), with bang crabs of the genus Alpheus in symbiosis live. The popcabs dig extensive tunnels under the sand surface that are up to one meter in length. The shrimp heaped up the sand on its large scissors and carried it out. There the sand is deposited not far from the cave. Before this, the popcorn assures itself by touching the goby's tail with its antennae that there is no danger in front of the cave. The goby guards the entrance to the cave and uses its behavior to signal the crab that it is safe outside. If there are enemies nearby, the signal will not be given, and if the predator comes close, the goby will dive into the cave.

This behavior has developed independently several times. The guardian gobies are therefore neither a monophylum nor a taxon .

They include the following genera and species (in brackets, as far as known, the popcid species living with the species).

• Guardian gobies inhabiting coral reefs:
  • Genus Amblyeleotris
    • Amblyeleotris guttata ( Alpheus bellulus , Alpheus ochrostiatus )
    • Amblyeleotris gymnocephala ( Alpheus djeddensis , Alpheus ochrostiatus )
    • Amblyeleotris japonica ( Alpheus bellulus )
    • Amblyeleotris latifasciata ( Alpheus bellulus )
    • Amblyeleotris ogasawarensis ( Alpheus ochrostiatus )
    • Amblyeleotris periophthalma ( Alpheus ochrostiatus )
    • Amblyeleotris randalli ( Alpheus rapicida )
    • Amblyeleotris steinitzi ( Alpheus bellulus , Alpheus djeddensis , Alpheus djiboutensis )
    • Amblyeleotris wheeleri ( Alpheus djeddensis , Alpheus ochrostiatus )
    • Amblyeleotris yanoi ( Alpheus randalli )
  • Genus Asterropteryx
  • Genus Ctenogobiops
    • Ctenogobiops feroculus ( Alpheus bellulus , Alpheus rapicida )
    • Ctenogobiops pomastictus ( Alpheus djiboutensis , Alpheus ochrostiatus , Alpheus rapicida )
  • Genus Vanderhorstia
    • Vanderhorstia mertensi ( Alpheus djiboutensis )
    • Vanderhorstia ornatissima ( Alpheus rapicida )
• Guardian gobies inhabiting silt soils :
  • Genus Cryptocentroides
  • Genus Cryptocentrus
    • Cryptocentrus caeruleopunctatus ( Alpheus djiboutensis , Alpheus rapax )
    • Cryptocentrus cinctus ( Alpheus bellulus , Alpheus ochrostiatus , Alpheus rapicida )
    • Cryptocentrus cryptocentrus ( Alpheus djeddensis , Alpheus djiboutensis )
    • Cryptocentrus fasciatus ( Alpheus ochrostiatus )
    • Cryptocentrus koumansi ( Alpheus rapicida )
    • Cryptocentrus lutheri ( Alpheus djiboutensis )
    • Cryptocentrus octofasciatus ( Alpheus rapicida )
    • Cryptocentrus strigilliceps ( Alpheus rapicida )
  • Genus Flabelligobius
  • Genus Istigobius
    • Istigobius ornatus
  • Genus Lotilia
    • Lotilia graciliosa ( Alpheus rubromaculatus )
  • Genus Mahidolia
    • Mahidolia mystacina
    • Mahidolia paucipora
  • Genus Myersina
  • Genus Nes
    • Nes longus
  • Genus Psilogobius
    • Psilogobius mainlandi ( Alpheus rapax )
  • Genus Stonogobiops
    • Stonogobiops dracula ( Alpheus randalli )
    • Stonogobiops nematodes ( Alpheus randalli )
    • Stonogobiops xanthorhinica ( Alpheus bellulus )
  • Genus Tomiyamichthys
    • Tomiyamichthys latruncularia ( Alpheus randalli )
    • Tomiyamichthys reticulatus

The species Oxyurichthys stigmalophius , which belongs to another family of gobies , the Oxudercidae (subfamily Gobionellinae ), also shares caves with crabs.

literature

• Christine E. Thacker, Dawn M. Roje: Phylogeny of Gobiidae and identification of gobiid lineages. Systematics and Biodiversity (2011), 9 (4): 329-347, ISSN  1478-0933 doi : 10.1080 / 14772000.2011.629011
• Koralle, marine aquarium specialist magazine, No. 45, partner gobies , June / July 2007, Natur und Tier Verlag Münster, ISSN  1439-779X