Species: Gobiesox punctulatus, Stippled Clingfish

Gobiesox punctulatus (Poey, 1876)

Stippled Clingfish

Tadpole shaped, head broad, depressed; head with poorly developed sensory papillae, none on top lip edge or on snout above top lip; front nostril with a flap that divides into 2; 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 4-6 pairs of narrow incisors at front, a row of curved canines along side; 1 dorsal fin, at rear, no spines, 11-12; anal fin 7-8, like dorsal fin and under it; pectoral fin 21 (19-22), a large fleshy pad with free rear edge at base of fin, free rear edge of that pad extends 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 1-2 longitudinal rows of papillae) & rear; anus about half way between sucker and anal fin origin; no scales; lateral line present as pores on head only.

Densely covered with tiny olive dots; larger dark dots scattered on top of head and nape; sometimes pale bars behind pectoral base, under front of dorsal fin, on tail base; fins dark to pale, a dark spot at front of dorsal fin; tail with a dark outer bar.

Reaches 6.4 cm.

Habitat boulders and rock faces in clear water.

Depth range: 0-3 m.

The Bahamas to the S Caribbean.