Hi Fin Red Banded Goby Identification Guide
Identify this flag-finned shrimp goby by its tall black-tipped dorsal spine and bold red-orange body bands.
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Key identification features
- Slim, whitish body crossed by two or three broad, evenly spaced red-orange bands
- Dramatically elongated first dorsal fin ray that stands well above the body like a flag, tipped in black with a yellow spot
- Yellow snout and a black-edged tail base
- Small size, typically under 3 inches
- Held partially raised on extended pectoral fins while hovering near its burrow
Common look-alikes
- Randall's Goby: has many thin diagonal orange stripes instead of a few broad bands, and a shorter, less flag-like dorsal fin
- Court jester goby: shows similar red banding but lacks the tall isolated dorsal spine, keeping the fin low and rounded
- Yasha goby: closely related and sometimes confused, but the Yasha's bands are narrower and its dorsal filament shorter
Where you'll see one
Found on sandy or rubble-strewn slopes and flats throughout the Indo-Pacific, usually in pairs hovering just above a burrow it shares with a pistol shrimp, at depths from about 10 to 40 meters.
Frequently asked questions
What single feature best separates the Hi Fin Red Banded Goby from similar shrimp gobies?
The extremely tall, isolated first dorsal spine held flag-like above the body is the most reliable giveaway; few other shrimp gobies raise a fin ray that dramatically above their back.
How many red bands should I count to confirm the ID?
Look for two to three broad, well-spaced red-orange bands crossing a mostly white body; more numerous thin diagonal stripes point to a different species such as Randall's Goby.