Common Name
Colon Goby
Year Described
Bohlke & Robins, 1960
Identification
Dorsal Fin: VI; I, 9
Anal Fin: I, 9
Pectoral Fin: 18-20
Pelvic Fin: I, 5
Caudal Fin: 17 segmented rays
Lateral Line Scales: 26
Vertebrae: 9+17=26
Body elongate. Snout profile straight. Eyes large and placed dorsally. A fleshy ridge present on nape from between eyes to dorsal fin origin. Anterior nostril tubular. Posterior nostril not tubular. Mouth small. Tongue truncated. No teeth on vomer or palatine. Teeth in jaws present in several irregular rows. Gill membranes joined to isthmus. Pectoral, soft dorsal, and anal fins with all rays branched and bound by membranes (first element simple). Second dorsal base longer than caudal peduncle length. Ventral fins fused with rays branched and last ray much shorter than fourth. Body covered in ctenoid scales, becoming cycloid on chest. Head and nape naked. Head pores present (one between eyes and one pair between rear nostrils). No lateral line.
Color
Body translucent gray with numerous brown and white spots over most of dorsum and flank. Two parallel rows of larger brown to reddish blotches: one row on lower flank and one about at level of eye. Three brown stripes on head: first through eye (darkens behind eye), second right under eyes, and the third on cheek. Pearly lines under brown stripes. A line of brown spots along dorsal midline and on fleshy ridge on nape. Eye dark to light gray with brown markings. Base of pectoral fin with two distinct black spots. Base of caudal fin with a paired dark spot that is often connected by a vertical bar. Dorsal fin with oblique brown bands and pearly white spots and a plain yellowish margin. Tail with brown and white spots. Anal and pectoral fins plain yellowish or dusky.
Size
Maximum size to 50mm SL.
Habitat
Corals reefs from 1-56m. Inhabits rocky recesses between coral heads.
Range
S. Florida to SE Brazil, including the Caribbean Sea.
References
Baldwin, C.C., Weigt, L.A., Smith, D.G., & J.H. Mounts. 2009. Reconciling genetic lineages with species in western Atlantic Coryphopterus (Teleostei: Gobiidae). Smithsonian Contributions to the Marine Sciences, 38: 111-138.
Baldwin C.C. & D.R. Robertson. 2015. A new, mesophotic Coryphopterus goby (Teleostei, Gobiidae) from the southern Caribbean, with comments on relationships and depth distributions within the genus. ZooKeys 513: 123-142.
Böhlke, J.E. & C.R. Robins. 1960. A revision of the gobioid fish genus Coryphopterus. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 112, 103-128.