Common Name
Citrine Goby
Year Described
Ginsburg, 1935
Identification
Dorsal Fin: VII, 12-14
Anal Fin: 11-14 (usually 13)
Pectoral Fin: 18-23
Caudal Fin: 16-17 segmented rays
Vertebrae: 11+17= 27 total
Body elongate and slightly compressed with a large head. Eye relatively large (>10% SL). Dorsal fin with median spines elongate (more so in males). Pelvic fins fully united into disk and strong frenum, with a fringed anterior margin of disk. Pelvic fin with fifth ray longest; all rays branched and runs to 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 (24-28 rows). Nape, pre-dorsal area, pectoral base, and belly with cycloid scales. No modified basicaudal scales.
Color
Body pale with 4-5 brown lateral blotches without any connecting stripe. Dorsum with faint brown saddles. Head with numerous orange stripes and spots. Dorsal fins and upper caudal fin with red-orange to orange spots surrounded by black. Margin golden with black edging. Rear base of first dorsal with a black blotch. Upper half of caudal fin with larger spotting than lower half. Anal fin pale basally and dark distally. Pelvic fin black. Eye pale.
Size
Maximum size to 57.4mm SL.
Habitat
Captured on mixed substrates from 12-71m.
Range
Scattered records in the southern half of the Caribbean Sea from the Dominican Republic to Venezuela (both around islands on on the continental coast).
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.
Other Notes
The close relative Bollmannia communis is distinguished by meristic differences and a larger eye (>10% SL) (Van Tassell et al., 2012).