Description

A pale greenish-brown shrimpgoby becoming whitish below, with 6-7 brownish bars along the side, large pale-edged pink spots on the head and dorsal fins, pale spots scattered on the head, and a broad red bar on the pectoral-fin base. The first band below the second dorsal fin ends entirely before the anal-fin origin. 

 Body design The body can be described as off-white with about eight full-width dark bands, though there is more black than white towards the tail in some individuals. Aft of the pectoral fin alternate bands are expanded into six black circular patches. These form a mid-lateral line of dark spots above which there is an overlay of spots and below which there are none. 

The front and top of the head are grey and the cheek is pale with blue-outlined pink spots arranged in four diagonal rows. The first runs from the mouth back to the eye, the second is a conspicuous line at the angle of the mandible, and the third and fourth are lines of three spots running parallel to the edge of the gill cover. 

The gill cover is pale with a dark patch posteriorly. 

Fin design 

The first dorsal fin is transparent with pale bright horizontal lines separating an upper and lower zone of pale-edged lilac ocelli. The second dorsal fin is probably similar. The caudal fin is banded. The pectoral fin is colourless with an opaque base from a conspicuous white diagonal bar with two or three red spots. The pelvic fin is grey with a yellow wash. 

Diagnostic features

Similar species

The most similar species is Cryptocentris leptocephalus which has smaller pink spots and many pale dots on the head, and the first band below the second dorsal fin ends in part above the anterior anal-fin rays. It occurs in the same area, but in a different habitat.

Cryptocentris caeruleomaculatus is also similar but has broad dark zones and narrow white zones. Its whole body is covered in reflective blue spots and the fin designs and gill covers differ. 

Taxonomy

This species has often been considered a junior synonym of Cryptocentrus leptocephalus or C. singapurensis (a junior synonym of C. leptocephalus).