Gnatholepis cauerensis, Lord Howe Is, NSW, Australia, Photo: Ian Shaw
Gnatholepis cauerensis, Lord Howe Island, NSW, Australia, Photo: Ian Shaw
Gnatholepis cauerensis, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
Gnatholepis cauerensis, Coral Sea, QLD, Photo: Andrew Green
Gnatholepis cauerensis, WA, Australia, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
Distribution
Tropical Indo-Pacific
Description
Narrow vertical bar through eye to bottom of head. Markings highly variable, but tend to be more distinctly linear down the side compared with those of G. anjerensis (Shoulderspot Sandgoby). Shoulder spot is not diagnostic, varying between individuals, and even between sides of a single individual. Found on sand patches near reefs.
Information
Max Size: 8 cm
Sea Temperature Range: 19.1-31.2°C
Depth: 2-50m
Habitat: Coral Reef, Soft sediment
Habitat Generalisation Index: 14.3
Also referred to as the SGI (Species generalisation index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species.
Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most
hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here
Rarity
IUCN Threat Status: Least Concern
Occurrence: Common (22% of sites)
Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution.
It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed
Abundance: Several (7 per transect)
Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.
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