{{Short description|Species of fish}} {{Speciesbox | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name = IUCN>{{cite journal | author = Pezold, F. | author2 = van Tassell, J. | author3 = Tornabene, L. | author4 = Aiken, K.A. | author5 = Bouchereau, J.-L. | name-list-style = amp | year = 2015 | title = ''Elacatinus colini'' |journal = [[The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species]] | volume = 2015 | page = e.T195873A2428578 | doi = 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T195873A2428578.en | doi-access = free }}</ref> | taxon = Elacatinus colini | authority = [[John Ernest Randall|J. E. Randall]] & [[Phillip S. Lobel|Lobel]], 2009 }}

'''''Elacatinus colini''''', the '''Belize sponge [[goby]]''', is a species of goby native to the Western Central Atlantic Ocean, near [[Belize]] and [[Honduras]].<ref name=IUCN/>

==Etymology== Its [[Specific name (zoology)|specific name]] honours [[Patrick L. Colin]], of the Coral Reef Research Foundation, Palau, who made a comparative study of the genus ''[[Elacatinus]]'' for his doctoral thesis.<ref name = ETYFish>{{cite web | url = http://www.etyfish.org/gobiiformes5/ | title = Order GOBIIFORMES: Family GOBIIDAE (d-h) | accessdate= 26 August 2018 | author1 = Christopher Scharpf | author2 = Kenneth J. Lazara | work = The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database | publisher = Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara | date = 29 May 2018}}</ref>

==Appearance== ''Elacatinus colini'' was originally thought to be a color variant of ''E. xanthiprora'' from Florida <ref>Randall, John E., and Phillip S. Lobel. "A Literature Review of the Sponge-Dwelling Gobiid Fishes of the Genus Elacatinus from the Western Atlantic, with Description of Two New Caribbean Species." Zootaxa, 2009, pp. 1–19., doi:ISSN 1175-5334.</ref> but was recently classified as its own species due to the presence of a bright white, not yellow, stripe along its body. ''E. colini'' are typically around 3&nbsp;cm in length (3.2&nbsp;cm SL for males, 3.4&nbsp;cm SL for females), and can be easily identified by the white strip running from its anterior to posterior end. On the ''E. colini's'' head, the lateral stripe is relatively small – about the same width as its pupil. However, on its body, the lateral stripe widens to about the same width as its eye. ''E. colini'' typically have 8 dorsal spines, 10-12 dorsal soft rays, 1 anal spine, 10–11 anal soft rays, and 17-19 pectoral rays. They lack scales and are covered with a thick adherent [[mucus]]. The bodies of ''E. colini'' are bluish-greenish gray above their lateral stripe, with the [[Dorsum (anatomy)|dorsal]] part of their head, iris, and lips exhibiting a bright yellow color and the [[ventral]] part of their body being white. Their fins are a translucent gray color.<ref name=IUCN/>

==Habitat==

''Elacatinus colini'' live in marine systems in [[symbiotic]] relationships with various species of sponges, using them as shelter. They have been found to live in [[Carrie Bow Cay]] in Belize and [[Utila]] Island in Honduras.<ref name=IUCN/> They live in shallow sponge, between {{convert|2|–|17|m}} deep but it is possible that they live deeper as well. ''E. colini'' inhabit tropical areas, 17ºN - 16ºN, 88ºW - 89ºW. According to Tassell, ''E. colini'' can occupy an area of about 11,184&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name=IUCN/>

==Population==

''Elacatinus colini'' were seemingly abundant in their local environment of [[Belize]] and [[Honduras]], however, there is little data or research on their population trends.

==Diet==

In a study performed by Majoris, Francisco, Atema and Buston,<ref name="auto1">Majoris, John E., et al. "Reproduction, Early Development, and Larval Rearing Strategies for Two Sponge-Dwelling Neon Gobies, Elacatinus Lori and E. Colini."Aquaculture, vol. 483, 2018, pp. 286-295. Elsevier.com.</ref> it was shown that ''E. colini'' [[larvae]] survived in higher numbers when fed wild-caught [[plankton]] as opposed to [[Rotifers]] (microscopic aquatic animals)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/phyla/rotifera/rotifera.html|title=Introduction to the Rotifera|website=www.ucmp.berkeley.edu}}</ref> and Artemia (a genus of aquatic crustaceans). The study also showed that the standard length of ''E. colini'' was higher when fed a diet of [[plankton]] as opposed to [[Artemia]] or [[rotifer]]. Researchers postulated this could be because larvae may not have developed the ability to digest Artemia and Rotifer, because Artemia could have changed water quality and thus affected the ability of the ''E. colini'' larvae to survive, or because the Artemia could have depleted the oxygen levels in the water and consequently lowered the survival rate of ''E. colini''. However, this last hypothesis is the least likely because the research tanks were well oxygenated.<ref name="auto1"/>

==Reproduction==

In the study conducted by Majoris et al.,<ref name="auto1"/> it was shown that before [[spawning]], the bodies of both male and female ''E. colini'' turn dark grey/black. Researchers also concluded that ''E. colini'' spawned within 3–44 days of being introduced to the study tanks, which was faster than ''Elacatinus lori''. ''E. colini'' spawned in relatively small clutches in comparison to ''E. lori'' and spawned every 7.8 ± 1.7 days. The study also showed that male ''E. colini'' incubated the eggs by fanning/mouthing the clutch until it hatched, and females were sometimes observed to consume the larvae after hatching. ''E. colini'' spawn regularly for a period of 12 months, and embryos hatch with a fully functional mouth, inflated [[swim bladder]], pigmented eyes, and two visible [[otoliths]]. After hatching, larvae tend to swim up to the surface of the water, as they are attracted to the light and feed on rotifers starting at around 12 hours after hatching.

==Development==

''Elacatinus colini'' are born with a fully functional mouth, inflated swim bladder, pigmented eyes, and two visible otoliths. After about 18–20 days post hatch (dph), fin folds are completely gone, and the pelvic and dorsal fins begin to form. At around 20–28 dph, the [[pelvic fin]] elongates but remains unfused. Pre-settled larvae have elongated snouts, partially fused pelvic fins, and exhibit the first [[dorsal fin]]. Once the pelvic fins have completely transformed into the pelvic disc, they begin to settle (earliest settlement begins at around 28 dph) and use their pelvic disc to suction onto surfaces. Settlement happens between 28–54 dph. The stripe along the body of ''E. colini'' develops immediately, while the yellow pigment on the snout takes a few days to develop.<ref name="auto1"/>

==Conservation==

There are no current observed threats to ''E. colini'', however, the degradation of sponge habitats could negatively impact the species. Monitoring of the species can prevent any threats from drastically impacting the ''E. colini'' population. Further research concerning threats to this species and population trends need to be performed. However, despite the species' small distribution, ''E. colini'' is currently categorized as a Least Concern species.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fishbase.org/summary/64950|title=Elacatinus colini summary page|website=FishBase}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q5755257}}

[[Category:Elacatinus|colini]] [[Category:Symbiosis]] [[Category:Taxa named by John Ernest Randall]] [[Category:Taxa named by Phillip S. Lobel]] [[Category:Fish described in 2009]]