Abstract
Elacatinus lobeli is described as a new species of cleaning goby from coral reefs of Belize and Islas de la Bahía, Honduras. Formerly misidentified as E. oceanops Jordan, it differs in smaller size (largest, 31 mm SL vs. 41 mm for E. oceanops), 10–12 (rarely 12) branched caudal rays vs. 12–14 (rarely 12) for E. oceanops, a mode of 16 pectoral rays vs. 17 for E. oceanops, a longer pelvic disk, averaging 17.1% SL, vs. 15.6% for E. oceanops), and in life color: notably a bright blue line within a gray stripe on upper side of body, compared to a broad bright blue stripe on E. oceanops. It has been observed in cleaning symbioses with 39 species of fishes representing 19 families. Larval gnathiid isopods have been found in the gut contents.References
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