Common Name
White-eye Goby
Year Described
Evermann & Marsh, 1899
Identification
Dorsal Fin: VII, 12-14 (usually 13)
Anal Fin: 12-14 (usually 13)
Pectoral Fin: 19-23
Caudal Fin: 16-19 branched rays
Vertebrae: 11+17 = 27 total
Body elongate and slightly compressed with a large head. Eye fairly large. Dorsal fin without elongate spines. Pelvic fins fully united into disk and strong frenum, with a fringed anterior margin of disk. Pelvic fin rays all branched with the fifith the longest; runs past anus. Caudal fin lanceolate. Two pterygiophores inserted anterior to first haemal spine. Cephalic lateralis canals and pores well developed. Body fully scaled with ctenoid scales (27-31 rows). Nape, pre-dorsal area, pectoral base, and belly with cycloid scales. No modified basicaudal scales.
Color
Body translucent white with extensive pearly highlights on the body and head. There are usually five lateral brown body blotches that are often connected by a paler brown stripe. Dorsum variably pale brown or with separated distinct saddles. In specimens with a strong pattern the two brown areas are fairly extensive and separated by a thin pale area that runs from the eye to the tail. Body scales with paler margins. Head with a thick brown stripe from eye to pectoral base. Cheek with 4-5 orange-brown bands and extensive blue iridescence in live specimens. Upper lip margin with no black markings. Dorsal fins pale with closely spaced brown striping. First dorsal fin with a black ocellus on the posterior rear base. Caudal fin mostly pale with faint continuation of the dorsal pattern continuing onto the tail. Anal fin plain or faintly marked with brown stripes. Pelvic and pectoral fins unmarked. Eye white.
Size
Maximum size to about 100mm SL.
Habitat
Captured on mixed mud and sand bottoms adjacent to coral reefs (8-73m).
Range
Appears to be widespread in the Caribbean Sea from the Florida Keys to Brazil.
References
Van Tassell, J. L., L. Tornabene, & P.L. Colin. 2012. Review of the western Atlantic species of Bollmannia (Teleostei: Gobiidae: Gobiosomatini) with the description of a new allied genus and species. Aqua. 18; 61-94.