Blind Goby
Shaped like a torpedo, the yellow watchman goby has a little round head and a long barrel-like body. This tiny little fish gets only up to 3 inches (8 cm) long. The fins on the belly near the tail form a suction cup-like structure that helps them grasp on to the substrate where they sit unmoving. Each of its eyes move independently so the goby can even see predators sneaking up from behind. Yellow watchman gobies come in two different colors—white with blue spots on the head and fins and with four or five bars on the body or in a dirty yellow. HabitatOn a coral reef, one animal species often relies on another for food, shelter or safety. The two species form a symbiotic relationship, or a partnership that contributes to their survival. The yellow watchman goby and a blind shrimp form a symbiotic relationship or partnership needed for survival. In this case the goby and the blind shrimp need each other to survive. There are other types of symbiotic relationships in which one partner benefits and the other is not harmed, or one partner benefits and hurts the other. The goby and blind shrimp share a burrow. While the goby stands guard, the blind shrimp digs, always keeping one antenna on the fish’s tail. The shrimp can’t sense danger unless its antennae are touching the tail. When a predator approaches, the goby wiggles its tail to warn the shrimp. Then both roommates duck into the burrow, safely out of reach.
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