Species: Gobiesox nigripinnis, Dark-finned Clingfish

Gobiesox nigripinnis (Peters, 1859)

Dark-finned Clingfish

Tadpole shaped, head broad, depressed, with poorly developed sensory papillae, none on top lip edge or on snout above top lip; front nostril with a 2 lobed flap, each tip with several points; top lip broad, much wider at front than at sides; top jaw with a deep patch of conical teeth at front, with canines or conical teeth on sides; lower jaw with 2 rows (outer row larger) of 1-3-round pointed incisors at front, a row of curved canines along side; 1 dorsal fin, at rear, no spines, 13-14; anal fin 7-8, like dorsal fin and under it; pectoral fin 23-25, a large fleshy pad with free rear edge at base of fin, free rear edge of that pad extends above to level of upper gill membrane attachment; sucker large, with papillae at front (a broad band, 6 rows deep), center (2 widely spaced patches, each with 1-3 longitudinal rows of papillae) & 4 rows at rear; anus much nearer sucker than anal fin origin; no scales; lateral line present as pores on head only.

Base color light grey-brown; upper head and body covered with large, close-set dark spots, those become longitudinally oriented black streaks along body; a dark brown spo6t at front of dorsal fin base; vertical fins dark, with white outer edges.

Reaches 6.2 cm.

Lives on reefs.

Depth range 0-20 m?

NE to SW Caribbean.