Common Name
Bermuda Goby
Year Described
Bean, 1906
Identification
Dorsal Fin: VI, 9-10
Anal Fin: 9-10
Pectoral Fin: 16-17 (17)
Caudal Fin: 17
Lateral Line Scales: 25-26
Gill Rakers: 7 (first arch)
Vertebrae: 9+17 = 26 (total)
Body elongate and tapering to the rear. No lateral pores on head. Jaws with bands of teeth (conical teeth inward and sharp canines outside) but vomer and palatine without teeth. Anterior nostril tubular. Posterior nostril slightly raised and separated from anterior nostril. No frenum on upper lip. Tongue rounded at tip. Gill opening extends to ventral part of opercular flap. Head, chest, nape, and pectoral base naked. Naked area extends to below posterior spine of spiny dorsal fin. Belly scaled. Two separate dorsal fins. Anterior dorsal fin spines not elongate. Pectoral rays unbranched.
Color
Life colors unknown. Preserved fish with thin pale bars (4 anterior to dorsal fin and 9-10 posterior to it) alternating with thicker dark bars. Each pale band with a thin line of median melanophores. No pale interspaces on dark bands. Pectoral base with a large, contrasting dark blotch that is much darker than the body coloration. Head pale with dark spots and bands radiating from eye and on cheek. Fins uniform with scattered black melanophores.
Size
A tiny species reaching 25mm SL
Habitat
Found on coral reefs and rubble zones from 4-52m
Range
Endemic to Bermuda
References
Böhlke, J. E. and C. R. Robins. 1960. Western Atlantic gobioid fishes of the genus Lythrypnus, with notes on Quisquilius hipoliti and Garmannia pallens. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia v. 112: 73-101, Pls. 1-3.
Greenfield, D. W. 1988. A review of the Lythrypnus mowbrayi complex (Pisces: Gobiidae), with the description of a new species. Copeia 1988 (2): 460-469.