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''Elacatinus'' is a
genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...
of small marine
gobies Gobiidae or gobies is a family of bony fish in the order Gobiiformes, one of the largest fish families comprising more than 2,000 species in more than 200 genera. Most of gobiid fish are relatively small, typically less than in length, and th ...
, often known collectively as the neon gobies. Although only one
species In biology, a species is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of ...
, ''E. oceanops'', is technically the "neon goby," because of their similar appearance, other members of the genus are generally labeled neon gobies, as well. Except for a single East Pacific species, all reside in warmer parts of the West Atlantic, including the Caribbean and
Gulf of Mexico The Gulf of Mexico ( es, Golfo de México) is an ocean basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, largely surrounded by the North American continent. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United S ...
. They are known for engaging in symbiosis with other marine creatures by providing them
cleaning Cleaning is the process of removing unwanted substances, such as dirt, infectious agents, and other impurities, from an object or environment. Cleaning is often performed for aesthetic, hygienic, functional, environmental, or safety purposes. ...
service that consists of getting rid of
ectoparasites Parasitism is a close relationship between species, where one organism, the parasite, lives on or inside another organism, the host, causing it some harm, and is adapted structurally to this way of life. The entomologist E. O. Wilson ha ...
on their bodies. In return, ''Elacatinus'' species obtain their primary source of food, ectoparasites.


Species

Currently, 24 recognized species are placed in this genus: * '' Elacatinus atronasus'' J. E. Böhlke & C. R. Robins, 1968 * '' Elacatinus cayman'' Victor, 2014 (Cayman cleaner goby) * '' Elacatinus centralis'' Victor, 2014 (Cayman sponge goby) * '' Elacatinus chancei'' Beebe & Hollister, 1933 (shortstripe goby) * '' Elacatinus colini'' J. E. Randall & Lobel, 2009 * '' Elacatinus evelynae'' J. E. Böhlke & C. R. Robins, 1968 (sharknose goby, Caribbean cleaner goby) * '' Elacatinus figaro'' I. Sazima ( fr), R. L. Moura & R. de S. Rosa, 1997 (barber goby) * '' Elacatinus genie'' J. E. Böhlke & C. R. Robins, 1968 (cleaner goby) * '' Elacatinus horsti'' Metzelaar, 1922 (yellowline goby) * '' Elacatinus illecebrosus'' (J. E. Böhlke & C. R. Robins, 1968) (barsnout goby) * ''
Elacatinus jarocho ''Elacatinus'' is a genus of small marine gobies, often known collectively as the neon gobies. Although only one species, ''E. oceanops'', is technically the "neon goby," because of their similar appearance, other members of the genus are gen ...
'' M. S. Taylor &
Akins Akins ( or ) is a Scottish surname and northern Irish family name. Origins Scotland The name has several possible origins, although it is generally considered to be a variant of ''Aikens'', which is considered to be a patronymic form of the na ...
, 2007
(Jarocho goby) * ''
Elacatinus lobeli ''Elacatinus'' is a genus of small marine gobies, often known collectively as the neon gobies. Although only one species, ''E. oceanops'', is technically the "neon goby," because of their similar appearance, other members of the genus are gen ...
'' J. E. Randall & P. L. Colin, 2009 * ''
Elacatinus lori ''Elacatinus'' is a genus of small marine gobies, often known collectively as the neon gobies. Although only one species, ''E. oceanops'', is technically the "neon goby," because of their similar appearance, other members of the genus are gener ...
'' P. L. Colin, 2002 * ''
Elacatinus louisae ''Elacatinus'' is a genus of small marine gobies, often known collectively as the neon gobies. Although only one species, ''E. oceanops'', is technically the "neon goby," because of their similar appearance, other members of the genus are gen ...
'' J. E. Böhlke & C. R. Robins, 1968 (spotlight goby) * ''
Elacatinus oceanops ''Elacatinus oceanops'', commonly known as the neon goby, is a species of goby native to waters of the Atlantic and Gulf coast of North America from Florida to Belize. This cleaner fish can be found on coral heads at depths from . This spec ...
'' D. S. Jordan, 1904 (neon goby) * '' Elacatinus phthirophagus'' I. Sazima, Carvalho-Filho & C. Sazima, 2008 (Noronha cleaner goby) * ''
Elacatinus pridisi ''Elacatinus pridisi'' is a species of goby endemic to the islands of Trindade and Martin Vaz and the seamounts associated to these islands in Brazil. Like other species of the genus '' Elacatinus'', it engages in cleaning behavior. However, u ...
'' R. Z. P. Guimarães, Gasparini & L. A. Rocha, 2004 * ''
Elacatinus prochilos ''Elacatinus'' is a genus of small marine Goby, gobies, often known collectively as the neon gobies. Although only one species, ''E. oceanops'', is technically the "neon goby," because of their similar appearance, other members of the genus are ...
'' J. E. Böhlke & C. R. Robins, 1968 (broadstripe goby) * ''
Elacatinus puncticulatus ''Elacatinus puncticulatus'' is a species of goby from the eastern central Pacific Ocean, where it is found on reefs from the Gulf of California to Ecuador. This species occurs at depths ranging from 1 to 21m, and usually in association with the ...
'' Ginsburg, 1938 * ''
Elacatinus randalli ''Elacatinus'' is a genus of small marine gobies, often known collectively as the neon gobies. Although only one species, ''E. oceanops'', is technically the "neon goby," because of their similar appearance, other members of the genus are gener ...
'' J. E. Böhlke & C. R. Robins, 1968 (yellownose goby) * ''
Elacatinus redimiculus ''Elacatinus'' is a genus of small marine gobies, often known collectively as the neon gobies. Although only one species, ''E. oceanops'', is technically the "neon goby," because of their similar appearance, other members of the genus are genera ...
'' M. S. Taylor &
Akins Akins ( or ) is a Scottish surname and northern Irish family name. Origins Scotland The name has several possible origins, although it is generally considered to be a variant of ''Aikens'', which is considered to be a patronymic form of the na ...
, 2007
(Cinta goby) * ''
Elacatinus serranilla ''Elacatinus'' is a genus of small marine gobies, often known collectively as the neon gobies. Although only one species, ''E. oceanops'', is technically the "neon goby," because of their similar appearance, other members of the genus are gen ...
'' J. E. Randall & P. L. Colin, 2009 * ''
Elacatinus tenox ''Elacatinus'' is a genus of small marine gobies, often known collectively as the neon gobies. Although only one species, ''E. oceanops'', is technically the "neon goby," because of their similar appearance, other members of the genus are gener ...
'' J. E. Böhlke & C. R. Robins, 1968 (slaty goby) * ''
Elacatinus xanthiprora ''Elacatinus'' is a genus of small marine gobies, often known collectively as the neon gobies. Although only one species, ''E. oceanops'', is technically the "neon goby," because of their similar appearance, other members of the genus are gen ...
'' J. E. Böhlke & C. R. Robins, 1968 (yellowprow goby)


Description

Neon gobies are very small,
torpedo A modern torpedo is an underwater ranged weapon launched above or below the water surface, self-propelled towards a target, and with an explosive warhead designed to detonate either on contact with or in proximity to the target. Historically, s ...
-shaped fish. Although sizes vary slightly by species, they are generally about long.E. oceanops, Fishbase. http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=3876 They have dark bodies with iridescent stripes running from the tip of the nose to the base of the
caudal fin Fins are distinctive anatomical features composed of bony spines or rays protruding from the body of a fish. They are covered with skin and joined together either in a webbed fashion, as seen in most bony fish, or similar to a flipper, as s ...
. The color of the stripes varies by species. Like all gobies, their dorsal fin is split in two, the anterior
dorsal fin A dorsal fin is a fin located on the back of most marine and freshwater vertebrates within various taxa of the animal kingdom. Many species of animals possessing dorsal fins are not particularly closely related to each other, though through c ...
being rounded like that of a
clownfish Clownfish or anemonefish are fishes from the subfamily Amphiprioninae in the family Pomacentridae. Thirty species of clownfish are recognized: one in the genus '' Premnas'', while the remaining are in the genus '' Amphiprion''. In the wild, ...
and the posterior dorsal fin being relatively flat. The
anal fin Fins are distinctive anatomical features composed of bony spines or rays protruding from the body of a fish. They are covered with skin and joined together either in a webbed fashion, as seen in most bony fish, or similar to a flipper, as s ...
lines up with the posterior dorsal fin and is of similar shape. The
pectoral fin Fins are distinctive anatomical features composed of bony spines or rays protruding from the body of a fish. They are covered with skin and joined together either in a webbed fashion, as seen in most bony fish, or similar to a flipper, as ...
s are nearly circular, and, like all other fins, transparent.


Distribution

Except for the East Pacific '' E. puncticulatus'', all gobies of the genus ''Elacatinus'' reside in warmer parts of the western
Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the "Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...
, ranging from Florida and
Bermuda ) , anthem = " God Save the King" , song_type = National song , song = "Hail to Bermuda" , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , mapsize2 = , map_caption2 = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = , ...
, through the
Bahamas The Bahamas (), officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is an island country within the Lucayan Archipelago of the West Indies in the North Atlantic. It takes up 97% of the Lucayan Archipelago's land area and is home to 88% of the archi ...
, Caribbean and
Gulf of Mexico The Gulf of Mexico ( es, Golfo de México) is an ocean basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, largely surrounded by the North American continent. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United S ...
to the coasts of Central America and northern South America (south to
Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...
). Among the species is ''E. oceanops'' that resides in the Caribbean Sea, the
Florida Keys The Florida Keys are a coral island, coral cay archipelago located off the southern coast of Florida, forming the southernmost part of the continental United States. They begin at the southeastern coast of the Florida peninsula, about south of ...
and the Bahama Islands. They have been found along the northern Yucatan Peninsula.


Diet

''Elacatinus'' are generally
carnivorous A carnivore , or meat-eater (Latin, ''caro'', genitive ''carnis'', meaning meat or "flesh" and ''vorare'' meaning "to devour"), is an animal or plant whose food and energy requirements derive from animal tissues (mainly muscle, fat and other ...
, with their primary diet consisting of
ectoparasites Parasitism is a close relationship between species, where one organism, the parasite, lives on or inside another organism, the host, causing it some harm, and is adapted structurally to this way of life. The entomologist E. O. Wilson ha ...
on skins, fins, mouth and gill chambers of their clients. Depending on their ecological circumstances, they may also feed on
zooplankton Zooplankton are the animal component of the planktonic community ("zoo" comes from the Greek word for ''animal''). Plankton are aquatic organisms that are unable to swim effectively against currents, and consequently drift or are carried along by ...
and non-parasitic
copepods Copepods (; meaning "oar-feet") are a group of small crustaceans found in nearly every freshwater and saltwater habitat. Some species are planktonic (inhabiting sea waters), some are benthic (living on the ocean floor), a number of species have p ...
. Although they are carnivorous, ''Elacatinus'' occasionally consume
algae Algae ( , ; : alga ) are any of a large and diverse group of photosynthetic, eukaryotic organisms. The name is an informal term for a polyphyletic grouping that includes species from multiple distinct clades. Included organisms range from ...
and other plants as secondary food source.


Physiology


Sex reversal

Some species of gobies exhibit
gonochorism In biology, gonochorism is a sexual system where there are only two sexes and each individual organism is either male or female. The term gonochorism is usually applied in animal species, the vast majority of which are gonochoric. Gonochorism ...
and
protogynous Sequential hermaphroditism (called dichogamy in botany) is a type of hermaphroditism that occurs in many fish, gastropods, and plants. Sequential hermaphroditism occurs when the individual changes its sex at some point in its life. In particular, ...
hermaphroditism, including bidirectional sex reversal. Protogyny refers to a category of hermaphroditism where female organs develop or mature before the appearance of male product. In most males of ''Tellostei gobiidae'', this characteristic is observed. Among those in the genus ''Elacatinus'', protogyny is observed in ''E. illecebrosus''. Protogynous hermaphroditism in gobies consists of a male reproductive system with paired, secretory, accessory gonadal structures (AGSs) associated with the testis. While the AGS is almost universally present in male gobies, protogynous females need to develop AGSs for sex reversal to take place. The AGSs develop from precursive tissues (pAGSs), in the form of bilateral, ventrally localized cell masses, located close to the junction of the ovarian lobes and the
oviduct The oviduct in mammals, is the passageway from an ovary. In human females this is more usually known as the Fallopian tube or uterine tube. The eggs travel along the oviduct. These eggs will either be fertilized by spermatozoa to become a zygote, ...
. At the time of sex change, it undergoes rapid growth and diverts to form the AGSs. When pAGSs develop into AGSs, ovigerous tissue is also completely replaced by
seminiferous Seminiferous tubules are located within the testes, and are the specific location of meiosis, and the subsequent creation of male gametes, namely spermatozoa. Structure The epithelium of the tubule consists of a type of sustentacular cells known ...
lobules In anatomy, a lobe is a clear anatomical division or extension of an organ (as seen for example in the brain, lung, liver, or kidney) that can be determined without the use of a microscope at the gross anatomy level. This is in contrast to the m ...
. However, the ovarian lumen remains even after the sex change, functioning as a common
spermatozoa A spermatozoon (; also spelled spermatozoön; ; ) is a motile sperm cell (biology), cell, or moving form of the ploidy, haploid cell (biology), cell that is the male gamete. A spermatozoon Fertilization, joins an ovum to form a zygote. (A zygote ...
collection region that is continuous with the common genital sinus as free spermatozoa travels from seminiferous lobules into the gonadal lumen. Gonochorism refers to development or evolution of sex. Gonochoric goby species normally do not possess pAGSs, but pAGSs are observed in ''E. illecebrosus'' and ''E. evelynae''. Specifically, the ovarian lobes of small-sized juvenile females of these species possess distinctive pAGSs that started to diminish and then disappeared as they approach adulthood.


Development

Gobies are multiply
spawning Spawn is the eggs and sperm released or deposited into water by aquatic animals. As a verb, ''to spawn'' refers to the process of releasing the eggs and sperm, and the act of both sexes is called spawning. Most aquatic animals, except for aqua ...
species, usually spawning from February to April. After spawning, male gobies guard and oxygenate eggs by frequent movement of their pectoral and caudal fins; males consume any eggs affected by fungus. However, after hatching, the larvae receive no parental protection. Around 30 days after hatching, the larvae begin metamorphosis into juvenile gobies.


Behavior


Mating

''Elacatinus'' species usually maintain social monogamy, a system in which heterosexual pairs remain closely associated during both reproductive and nonreproductive periods. Males and females of ''Elacatinus''
forage Forage is a plant material (mainly plant leaves and stems) eaten by grazing livestock. Historically, the term ''forage'' has meant only plants eaten by the animals directly as pasture, crop residue, or immature cereal crops, but it is also us ...
together, occupying a single cleaning station and servicing client fish in pairs. Such behavior observed in ''Elacatinus'' is attributed to low costs and high benefits for both sexes that result from being paired with a single, large partner. Males benefit from forming
monogamous Monogamy ( ) is a form of dyadic relationship in which an individual has only one partner during their lifetime. Alternately, only one partner at any one time ( serial monogamy) — as compared to the various forms of non-monogamy (e.g., polyg ...
pairs with large females since they tend to have higher
fecundity Fecundity is defined in two ways; in human demography, it is the potential for reproduction of a recorded population as opposed to a sole organism, while in population biology, it is considered similar to fertility, the natural capability to pr ...
, while females are able to gain more resources by cleaning under the protection of a larger male. Females experience reduced cleaning rate overall when cleaning with a male. However, they spend more time in each cleaning session, so are able to feed on more ectoparasites compared to those with a smaller mate. If large body size also correlates with better paternal care is not confirmed, as it is difficult to observe caring behavior of ''Elacatinus'' whose males tend eggs that are laid deep within a small coral cavity. Intrasexual aggression used as a means to guard mates is proposed as a primary mechanism of maintaining monogamy. Both males and females were observed to be very aggressive toward same-sex intruders that come to their territory to accost their partners. However, several biological and ecological factors also enforce monogamy in these cleaner gobies. ''Elacatinus'' species reproduce asynchronously, which makes
polygyny Polygyny (; from Neoclassical Greek πολυγυνία (); ) is the most common and accepted form of polygamy around the world, entailing the marriage of a man with several women. Incidence Polygyny is more widespread in Africa than in any o ...
unfavorable. Furthermore, although it differs among species, cleaner gobies tend to live in environments of low population density where distance between potential mates is rather far. Although it is seldom, polygyny is observed in ''Elacatinus''. Mated males may approach a new female if she is larger than their mate. Polygyny may also be exhibited in widowed males and females. When ''Elacatinus'' spp. are widowed, they often leave their cleaning territory. However, the vacant territory is not claimed by other cleaner gobies, which implies that the widowed gobies actually chose to move instead of being forced. This observation shows that the widowed gobies possibly have moved to search for new mate.


Mutualism

Mutualism refers to relationship where one or both partners provide a service or resources to the other. Caribbean cleaning gobies engage in mutualism by removing and feeding on
ectoparasites Parasitism is a close relationship between species, where one organism, the parasite, lives on or inside another organism, the host, causing it some harm, and is adapted structurally to this way of life. The entomologist E. O. Wilson ha ...
on their clients. They present themselves and wait for clients at
cleaning stations A cleaning station is a location where aquatic life congregate to be cleaned by smaller creatures. Such stations exist in both freshwater and marine environments, and are used by animals including fish, sea turtles and hippos, referred to as cli ...
, as they largely depend on cleaning for their food. ''Elacatinus'' spp. often clean in pairs, where pairs are most often composed of a male and a female. Occupying the same territory, the cleaner pair usually cleans the same client at the same time. Cleaning gobies generally service a wide range of clients; however, members of the genus ''Elacatinus'' are considered the most specialized cleaner gobies in tropical western Atlantic. Most frequent clients of ''Elacatinus'' include
damselfish Damselfish are those within the subfamilies Abudefdufinae, Chrominae, Lepidozyginae, Pomacentrinae, and Stegastenae within the family Pomacentridae. Most species within this group are relatively small, with the largest species being about 30 ...
,
Pomacentridae Pomacentridae is a family of ray-finned fish, comprising the damselfishes and clownfishes. This family were formerly placed in the order Perciformes but are now regarded as being ''incertae sedis'' in the subseries Ovalentaria in the clade ...
and Haemulidae, and planktivores. Rather than seeking their clients actively, they remain close to their cleaning station and seldom move more than a meter laterally. They do, however, dance in zig-zag swimming pattern to attract clients. Hosts come to the cleaning sites and pose to show their intent to receive service. Such poses are usually directed at the cleaning station rather than the individual gobies. However, not all the potential clients, or those that pose, are attended by cleaners. Duration of cleaning may range from a few seconds to almost half an hour. In observational studies, decreases in cleaning frequency turned out to be correlated to increases in cleaning durations. The rate of feeding and cleaning duration most likely reflect the number of parasites on clients' bodies.


Predator–prey relationship

''Elacatinus'' has a unique response to predators' approach. Fish response to danger is largely classified into fight-or-flight or freezing. However, ''Elacatinus'' follows neither. It engages in cleaning interactions with potential predators sooner than with nonpredatory clients, treating them almost as soon as they arrive at their cleaning stations. Furthermore, ''Elacatinus'' species clean predators for longer durations. As implied by higher
cortisol Cortisol is a steroid hormone, in the glucocorticoid class of hormones. When used as a medication, it is known as hydrocortisone. It is produced in many animals, mainly by the '' zona fasciculata'' of the adrenal cortex in the adrenal g ...
level in the cleaners when approached by predators, the fish do experience stress upon encountering predators, but unlike other fish that exhibit flight or freezing response, ''Elacatinus'' spp. demonstrates a proactive response. ''Elacatinus'' is thought to choose to be proactive, as cleaning predators faster makes them leave sooner, which in turn encourages nonpredatory clients to revisit cleaning stations. Moreover, such proactive response may serve as a pre-conflict management strategy that might result in safe outcome for interactions with certain predators.


Coloration

Common stripe patterns in ''Elacatinus'' include yellow, green, and blue; however, those possessing blue stripes were found to be most effective in attracting clients, as well as deterring predators. Four of six cleaner species of the genus ''Elacatinus'' display such coloration—''E.oceanops'', ''E.evelynae'', ''E.genie'', and ''E.prochilos''. ''E.puncticulatus'' and ''E.nesiotes'' engage in cleaner activity, but do not possess blue stripes. One of the ways ''Elacatinus'' signals its clients is through unique blue stripes that distinguish them from their noncleaning sister species; while their noncleaning relatives possess yellow or green stripes that blend well with their sponge dwellings, cleaning ''Elacatinus'' spp. advertise their presence to potential clients by sitting on top of substrate such as coral. The characteristic blue stripe only observed in the cleaner lineage of gobies marks great contrast with the
coral Corals are marine invertebrates within the class Anthozoa of the phylum Cnidaria. They typically form compact colonies of many identical individual polyps. Coral species include the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans and secre ...
microhabitats In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...
compared to other stripe colors found in gobies, so allow them to be spotted easily. Blue stripes of ''Elacatinus'' play a role as signals for cooperation in addition to advertisement. Additionally, ''Elacatinus'' spp. possessing blue stripes deterred or survived significantly more attacks as compared to green and yellow gobies.


Cheating

Some ''Elacatinus'' cleaners cheat by feeding on scales and
mucus Mucus ( ) is a slippery aqueous secretion produced by, and covering, mucous membranes. It is typically produced from cells found in mucous glands, although it may also originate from mixed glands, which contain both serous and mucous cells. It ...
of clients in addition to ectoparasites on their clients, which is confirmed by examination of their stomach contents. However, cheating may result in punishment. When clients realize that they are being cheated on, they interrupt the cleaning interaction and swim away or do not return to the gobies' cleaning station in the future, which may result in the cheater obtaining less resources than they could have obtained without cheating. This client behavior is similar to sanction strategy, where one partner restrains its biological investment. This strategy has been proven effective in keeping interspecies mutualism stable, and such cheating behavior is not readily observed in ''Elacatinus''. They prefer to feed on ectoparasites over client mucus or scale. Therefore, they most likely cheat only when ectoparasites supply is depleted in clients.


In the aquarium

Members of the genus ''Elacatinus'', particularly ''E. oceanops'', are among the most popular marine aquarium inhabitants. Several species of neon goby are readily available because of successful captive-breeding programs, although scientific names are not always given. Generally, if the specimen has a blue stripe, it can be identified as ''E. oceanops'', and if the stripe is half-blue and half-gold, it is ''E. evelynae''. Various species are offered as "gold neon gobies". Neon gobies are not difficult to keep, and accept a wide variety of water parameters. Specific gravity is not critical, so long as it remains steady. As with all marine aquarium fish, they are sensitive to even trace amounts of
ammonia Ammonia is an inorganic compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula . A stable binary hydride, and the simplest pnictogen hydride, ammonia is a colourless gas with a distinct pungent smell. Biologically, it is a common nitrogeno ...
or
nitrite The nitrite ion has the chemical formula . Nitrite (mostly sodium nitrite) is widely used throughout chemical and pharmaceutical industries. The nitrite anion is a pervasive intermediate in the nitrogen cycle in nature. The name nitrite also re ...
in an aquarium. Small amounts of nitrate are acceptable, but significant amounts over the long term can cause problems. Neon gobies are tolerant of a broad range of temperatures, but they are tropical, so a heater may be necessary to maintain a temperature of at least year round. Other parameters, such as
alkalinity Alkalinity (from ar, القلوي, al-qaly, lit=ashes of the saltwort) is the capacity of water to resist acidification. It should not be confused with basicity, which is an absolute measurement on the pH scale. Alkalinity is the strengt ...
, only become a problem if they are extreme.


Gallery

File:Elacatinus atronasum.JPG, ''E. atronasus'' File:Elacatinus chancei.JPG, ''E. chancei'' File:Elacatinus evelinae.JPG, ''E. evelynae'' File:Elacatinus figaro.JPG, ''E. figaro'' File:Elacatinus genie.JPG, ''E. genie'' File:Elacatinus horsti.JPG, ''E. horsti'' File:Elacatinus illecebrosum.JPG, ''E. illecebrosum'' File:Elacatinus jarocho.JPG, ''E. jarocho'' File:Elacatinus lori.JPG, ''E. lori'' File:Elacatinus louisae.JPG, ''E. louisae'' File:Elacatinus oceanops.JPG, ''E. oceanops'' File:Elacatinus pridisi.JPG, ''E. pridisi'' File:Elacatinus prochilos.JPG, ''E. prochilos'' File:Elacatinus randalli.JPG, ''E. randalli'' File:Elacatinus tenox.JPG, ''E. tenox'' File:Elacatinus xanthiprora.JPG, ''E. xanthiprora''


References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q134517 Gobiinae Marine fish genera Taxa named by David Starr Jordan