Description

Body design

A rather cryptic and inconspicuous shrimpgoby living away from the reef. They are 5 to 7 cm long.

Body design

The body is cream-coloured with five dark brown to black bars along its length, the first bar covering the gill cover and the last on the tail base (caudal peduncle). Between these are randomly arranged dark brown blotches which extend dorsally and to the top of the head.

The cheek has 4 or 5 characteristic broken yellow diagonal bands. These extend from the gill cover to the posterior edge of the mouth. There is a dark patch below the eye to the upper lip. These markings vary in density between individuals.

Fin design

The first dorsal fin differs between the sexes. The male dorsal fin is roughly triangular, cream-coloured becoming yellow along the top margin, with a black spot (about the same size as the iris) at the rear corner of the fin on the fourth dorsal spine. The pattern on the back of the fish extends onto the base of the fin. The female dorsal fin is more rounded and plain grey, with a single smaller, elongated black spot also at the tip of the fourth dorsal spine.

The second dorsal fin is transparent with alternating rows of yellow-brown and iridescent blue spots. The pectoral fin is transparent with two dark spots at the forward end of the fin base. The pelvic fin is distinctive, it is an opaque white with a conspicuous black central segment with white rays. The anal fin is opaque dark cream without markings. The caudal fin is transparent with yellow and iridescent blue spots and lines.

Diagnostic features

A rather cryptic and dull-coloured fish. The diagonal yellow spotted bands on the cheek are distinctive as is the the small spot on the dorsal fin. The white and black pelvic fin is also characteristic although it is not always very easy to see.

Similar species

This fish is very similar to T. russus but is unlikely to be confused with anything else.

The Ocellated Shrimpgoby, T russus differs in having yellow dark-edged spots on the cheek (instead of having diagonal yellow spotted bands), one or two strong dark brown bars on the face between the eye and mouth (instead of a poorly defined dark area), the dorsal fin with a larger black spot with a bright white edge (instead of small spot and no white edge), a white pelvic fin with no black central portion and darker banding on the anal fin (instead of no banding), a blue patch on the gill cover (instead of no blue patch), a series of fine pale yellow bands in mature individuals along the side of the body overlaying the dark bars (instead of no pale bands).

The broad features are like several other Tomiyamichthys species but T. levisquama lacks the tubular nostrils.

Etymology

The specific name levisquama is from the Greek levis (smooth) + squama (scale), in reference to the cycloid scales.