Tigrigobius saucrus

Common Name

Leopard Goby

Year Described

Robins, 1960

Identification

Dorsal Fin: VII, 11
Anal Fin: 9-10 (usually 10)
Pectoral Fin: 15-17 (usually 16)
Caudal Fin: 17 (segmented)
Vertebrae: 11 precaudal, 17 caudal; 27 total

Body elongate with a blunt snout. Two preopercular pores. A small patch of scales on caudal peduncle. Four modified basicaudal scales. Last 2 dorsal spines separated more than the anterior five. Anterior spine may be elongate in mature males. Pelvic fin forms a fused disk.

Color

Body translucent with two rows of golden-brown spots on the side: one under dorsal fins and one on lower side. The spots are darkened by a dense speckling of melanophores, which become sparser in interspaces. Spots and lines become red or orange on the head. Cheek red. Gut bright white with two dark blotches. Vertebrae banded white and black. Fins lightest basally, with dense concentrations of brown and black melanophores.

Size

Maximum size to 16mm SL.

Habitat

Found on shallow coral reefs (<30m) perched on coral heads.

Range

Caribbean Sea: the Bahamas to the Lesser Antilles.

References

Böhlke, J. E., & Robins, C. R. 1968. Western Atlantic seven-spined gobies, with descriptions of ten new species and a new genus, and comments on Pacific relatives. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 120, 45-174.