The Pocong Goby: Mummies in the Reef!

We aren’t scientists … but we think we found a new Goby. At least we stumbled over one which – we think – we haven’t seen before.
It is a small Goby that lives on rocks and seems to belong to the Trimma family (for sure it looks like a Trimma). Its distinct features are a white body with black rings around the eyes and a red tail. When shooting the first head shots of it we immediately started calling it the Pocong Goby. Pocong is indonesian for “Mummy” and typically refers to a real Mummy or a Ghost figure in white lines with a white face and black spots around the eyes. And in deed this fish has a striking resemblance to this popular form of ghost in Indonesia 😉

Pocong is a popular Indonesian Horror Costume

The Pocong Goby has the same distinct Black Eyes like the Pocong Mummies

ID Shot of the Pocong Goby showing its white colour with black eyes and red tail

Our Guide Nando spotted it on a recent dive and showed it to  everyone – including two goby loving japanese divers which also said they had never seen it before. So back in the resort we checked our books and could not find it. But no matter how – new species or not – we will keep calling it the Pocong Goby. So watch out when diving in Lembeh: There are Mummies in the Reef 😉