About Nes longus (Nichols, 1914)
Taxonomic Identity
The orangespotted goby, Nes longus, is a species of goby that is native to the tropical Atlantic coast.
Distribution Range
Its distribution ranges from Bermuda and southern Florida, through the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, and extends south to the Caribbean coasts of Venezuela and Colombia.
Habitat Preferences
This species prefers silty bottoms located around reefs, and lives specifically on unvegetated silty substrates in waters less than 9 metres (30 ft) deep.
Genus Status
It is the only known member of the genus Nes.
Symbiotic Relationship
This goby forms a commensal, symbiotic relationship with the snapper shrimp Alpheus floridanus. It shares a burrow with a usually paired set of host shrimps, and is dependent on the shrimps' burrow for cover.
Burrow Sentinel Behavior
The goby interacts closely with its host shrimps, and acts as a sentinel by watching for predators from the burrow's entrance.
Maximum Size
This species can reach a maximum total length of 10 centimetres (3.9 in).
Diet Composition
Its diet consists mainly of small gastropods, decapods, ostracods and isopods.
