Whip Coral

The whip coral goby has a semi-transparent head and body, with white scales running along its vertebra. Its head is reddish-brown to violet in color and the goby has pink to violet-red eyes. Their coloration is noted to match the color of the coral they inhabit. The fish is approximately 3 to 3.5 centimeters long. Healthy whip coral gobies have seven dorsal spines, seven dorsal soft rays, one anal spine and seven anal soft rays. They also have cup-like pelvic fins and gills that open below the base of the pectoral fins.

There are noted populations of the whip coral goby around areas such as the Marshall Islands, Chagos Archipelago and Samoa. The whip coral goby lives in and around coral species such as stinging coral. Whip coral gobies usually live in pairs in association with the wire coral species Cirrhipathes anguina (Antipathidae) at depths of between 3 and 45 metres (9.8 and 147.6 ft). These pairs are usually male-female pairs. This species is also found in the aquarium trade.

Whip coral gobies reproduce through benthic spawning, meaning they release eggs and sperm to be fertilized externally. They also have the ability to change their sex when there is a gender imbalance.