Black Sail-fin Goby (Magnificent Goby)

Black Sailfin goby
Flabellagobious sp.
by Roberto Sozzani

A very rare goby known only to me originally from the book Sea Fishes of Japan. It had been on my lookout list since I first set eyes on it. The story to actually finding this fish is fairly bizarre too. We used to dive a site to see some white tip reef sharks, it was also good for large pelagic fish, though logistically we could not dive it on the right tides so it was sometimes an awkward dive site. Not being really enthused about seeing some reef sharks and pelagic fish I started to search the sandy areas if the site. I had seen some great gobies and started to search some more. I then came across this most amazing of gobies. I started to rave on about this little beauty and the guests were then briefed to opt for macro lenses.

Like most partner gobies, this is fairly shy. Its habitat is known only to me from two areas of Indonesia, the one shown here was photographed on Medang island just off the coast of northern Sumbawa. I have also seen it in Irian Jaya. From what I have seen the fish seems to prefer current as both sights it was seen facing into the current on open sand patches between reefs. It is partnered by the very colourful Randalls shrimp goby alpheus randalli.

I am very keen to hear about more sightings of this beautiful fish, if there are any keen divers, photographers, scientific experts about there interested in seeing this fish here in Indonesia please do not hesitate to contact me.

Source:
http://www.diving4images.com/creature_features.html