THIS NEEDS COMPLETE REVISION

These may be a collection of different species. They are defined mainly by not being T tanyspilos. The Solomon Island specimens are very different (need to add photos). Other photos are from Frazer Island in the south (main photo, pregnant female and pair) to individuals from Percy island, Whitsunday Islands and Lizard Island. They look different at each location.

Description

Body design 

A medium-sized goby, attenuated body shape, grey with five brown blotches along the mid-lateral line. Between these are smaller, less distinct patches and above these is a broken rippled line of brown spots extending to the dorsum. There is a series of brown saddles along the dorsum. The ventral surface is pale and unmarked.

The head is pale with six to eight spots of condensed tiny red stipples.

Fin design

D1 is triangular and transparent with a black spot on the aft margin, Ryansky photo shows three spots. lines of brown spots through the rest of the fin

LOOK THROUGH OUR IMAGES FOR THE DORSAL FIN DESIGN.

Diagnostic features

Similar species

Etymology 

The specific name is from the Latin lanceolatus (= shaped like a lance-head), in reference to the symmetrically lanceolate caudal fin (tail) that is longer than the head.

Nomenclature

This species has previously been known as Vanderhorstia lanceolata.

Nearly all the published images and descriptions of this fish are actually of Tomiyamichthys tanyspilos.