Author: Taylor & Akins, 2007
FBname: Jarocho goby
Comments: This species was found between 3-25 m depth on high profile coral reefs typically dominated by <i>Montastrea cavernosa</i> (Linneaus), <i>M. annularis</i> (Ellis and Solander), <i>Colpophyllia natans</i> (Houttuyn) and skeletal reef framework. <i>Elacatinus jarocho</i> joins <i>E. atronasus</i> (Böhlke & Robins) as the only two species in the genus to school in the water column. Small to large aggregations (12-60 individuals) of <i>E. jarocho</i> were normally found close to the reef near high profile corals or overhangs. Such reef structure presumably provides shelter from direct sunlight because aggregations were usually observed in darker, shaded areas rather than in direct sunlight. Individuals of <i>E. jarocho</i>, unlike <i>E. atronasus</i>, were never observed stationary on any substrate, but rather hovered continuously about 5–25 cm above the reef, frequently in association
  with <i>Coryphopterus hyalinus</i> Böhlke & Robins or <i>C. personatus</i> (Jordan & Thompson). This species was not observed to clean other species or interact in other symbiotic relationships. Small and large individuals coexisted in the same aggregations and did not display territorial or hierarchical behaviors. Individual fish would often, though not always, move slowly toward cover when approached to less than 1 m by scuba divers (Ref. 58341).