Mary Allen
Introduction: Meet the Orange-Spotted Goby
If you ever get the chance to snorkel or dive in tropical waters, you might come across a small, colorful fish with characteristic orange spots. That fish is the Orange-Spotted Goby, also known as the Clown Goby (Gobiodon citrinus). Despite their tiny size, these fish play an important role in coral reef ecosystems, interacting with corals and invertebrates in fascinating ways.
Coral-Friendly Fish: Orange-Spotted Goby Behaviour
Orange-Spotted Gobies are known to be very friendly towards corals, often living in close proximity to them. They don’t harm the coral in any way, but instead use the coral branches as shelter and protection from predators. Interestingly, the gobies have been observed to choose specific coral species to inhabit, which suggests that they might have a preference for certain types of coral.
A Tiny Helper: How Orange-Spotted Gobies Protect Coral
Orange-Spotted Gobies offer more than just shelter to corals. They also play an important role in protecting corals from harmful predators, such as crown-of-thorns starfish and coral-eating snails. The gobies have been observed to attack these predators by biting and pulling at their tube feet or antennae, effectively deterring them from consuming the coral. This behavior is called "cleaning", and it’s a crucial aspect of the symbiotic relationship between the gobies and the coral.