Common Name
Frecklefin Goby
Year Described
Ginsburg, 1939
Identification
Dorsal Fin: VII, 11-12 (usually 12)
Anal Fin: 10-11 (usually 10)
Pectoral Fin: 14-17
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 two spine may be elongate in mature males. Pelvic fin forms a fused disk.
Color
Body dark brown to gray, with 8-9 dark brown to black body bands behind opercle. The bands fully encircle the body but often break into "Y's" dorsally. The head is dark with numerous light spots on upper head, cheek, eyes, and mouth area. Light spots often continue down the dorsal midline on fin base coinciding with light interspaces. Fins dark with dense melanophores on fin membranes but elements pale.
Size
Maximum size to 25mm SL.
Habitat
Found in shallow coral reef habitats associated with pits and crevices in limestone walls and canyons.
Range
Caribbean Sea: insular from the Bahamas to Venezuela.
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.