Description:

Dorsal spines: 7. Dorsal rays: 10. Anal spines: 1. Anal rays: 9. 

Slender-bodied goby. Eyes high on sides of compressed head prortruding from dorsal profile. Interorbital space narrower than eye. 
Sensory papillae on head and anterior portion of body well developed. Scales cycloid. First dorsal fin origin behind pelvic fin insertion. Pelvic fins 
connected, forming a cup-shaped disc.

Colour. Base colour very dark brown. Broad white band extending forwards from base of second dorsal spine along predorsal area and snout onto anterior 
part of lower jaw. Large white spot at origin of second dorsal fin. Smaller white spots, varying in size, scattered over body, head, pelvic fins and 
proximal portions of dorsal, caudal and anal fins. Dorsal, caudal and anal fins with white distal margins. Pelvic fins dark brown with hyaline distal 
margin. Pectoral fins brown basally, becoming hyaline with brown spots distally. 
 

Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm. Maximum Length: 7 cm TL.

Inhabit shallow reef flats, sandy and rocky bottoms (depth 1-8 m) in burrows which in Seychelles typically occur where coralline rock 
borders on fine sand in water not more than 2 m deep (Pollunin and Lubbock 1977). Lives symbiotically with burrowing alpheid shrimps. 

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is not subject to the artisanal fishery. 

Species first documented in the 1950s in Kenyan waters by JLB Smith. It was recorded in Seychelles (central archipelago and Aldabra) by Pollunin and 
Lubbock (1977). 
Photo courtesy Eleanor Brighton and Chris Mason-Parker (c) 2022 Blue Safari Seychelles/Marine Conservation Society, Seychelles. 
Photograph taken at Alphonse group 2022.

Froese, R. & D. Pauly. Eds. (2023). FishBase. Cryptocentrus malindiensis. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/62035 (15/11/23).
Hoese, D. & Larson, H. (2004). Description of a new species of Cryptocentrus (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from northern Australia, with comments on the genus. 
The Beagle, Records of the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory. 20: 167-174.
Larson, H. (2019). Cryptocentrus malindiensis. The IUCN Red List 2019: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T123433638A123494757.en. (15/11/23).
Pinault, M. et al. (2015). First record of the chocolate shrimp-goby (Gobiidae: Cryptocentrus malindiensis) from Réunion Island with a brief description 
of its natural habitat. Cybium. 39(3): 237-239.
Polunin, N.V.C. & Lubbock, R. (1977). Prawn-associated gobies (Teleostei: Gobidae) from the Seychelles, Western Indian Ocean: systematics and ecology. 
J. Zool., Lond. (1977) 183, 63-101 

Nevill, J.E.G., Brighton, E. & Mason-Parker, C. (2023). Cryptocentrus malindiensis, Chocolate Shrimp-goby. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/cryptocentrus-malindiensis-smith-1959/