Gobiodon erythrospilus Bleeker 1875

This species possess many reddish spots/stripes on a yellow-green or sky-blue body; when alive or freshly-collected, it can be distinguished from similar reddish-spotted/lined congeners (G. aoyagii and G. histrio), by having the following set of details in color: 5-6 (usually 5) vertical reddish bars on head and pectoral-fin base; bars on cheek and operculum relatively short, usually not or barely reaching dorsally beyond a level of dorsal margin of eye; 3-8 longitudinal series of rounded or longitudinally elongate scarlet/reddish spots on body, sometimes continuous and forming longitudinal stripes; dorsal, anal and caudal fins are pale yellow with very narrow black distal margins; absence of a black spot at dorsoposterior corner of operculum. In alcohol-preserved specimens, all reddish spots are largely or entirely faded, but this species can still be distinguished from congeners by having a deep, inflected interopercle-isthmus groove; a series of minute non-imbricate cycloid scales on midlateral body; 6-7 upper or lower unsegmented caudal-fin rays; absence of a distinct dusky spot at dorsoposterior corner of operculum. Urogenital papilla in males are more narrowed distally and nearly triangular, while is females it is broader and nearly rectangular (Ref. 94251).

Bi-directional sex change has been confirmed for this species (Ref. 103751).

Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 11; Analspines: 1; Analsoft rays: 8 - 10; Vertebrae: 26

This species is observed to be found among branches of table-like corals, usually Acropora nasuta, also A. valida, A. millepora (the coarse branched form) and sometimesA. tenuis (Ref. 94251).