Species: Varicus benthonis, Deepwater goby

belly scaleless

pectoral 16
Varicus benthonis (Ginsburg, 1953)
Deepwater goby
Body compressed; head broad, somewhat flattened; head without pores; eyes very large, close together; most parts of head and nape with small numbers of papillae; anterior and posterior nostrils tubular, front one longer; tongue tip rounded; gill membranes broadly joined to body under throat, with 5 rays; dorsal fin VII + I, 8; length of 2nd dorsal base > distance from 2nd dorsal base to tail fin; anal fin I, 7; pectoral 16, pelvic fins I, 5, completely separate, rays 1-4 branch 1-2 times in outer half of ray, without flattened tips, 5th ray not branched, much shorter than 4th, < pelvic spine, fins long, reach to anus; head & front of body scaleless, scales extend forwards to mid-flank under 2nd dorsal ray 6, in lateral series 12, smooth in front, smooth to weakly rough at back, 2 large very rough scales on tail fin base; belly scaleless; no lateral line.
Preserved fish pale yellowish.
Reaches 3.5 cm.
Habitat: reefs.
Depth: 154-350 m.
SW Gulf of Mexico.

High Resolution Map Download
- Salinity
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- Marine
- Marine Only
- Inshore/Offshore
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- Inshore
- Offshore
- In & Offshore
- Water Column Position
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- Bottom only
- Bottom
- Habitat
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- Reef only
- Rocks
- Reef (rock/coral/oyster)
- Reef associated (reef + edges-water column & soft bottom)
- FishBase Habitat
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- Reef Associated
- Feeding Group
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- Planktivore
- Data
- Diet
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- Data
- Zooplankton
- Egg Type
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- Data
- Benthic
- Pelagic larva
- Global Endemism
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- West Atlantic Endemic
- All species.
- Greater Caribbean endemic
- Regional Endemism
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- All species..
- Continent
- Continent only
- Gulf of Mexico endemic
- GC endemic
- Residency
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- Resident
- Climate Zone
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- Subtropical (23-35N, Florida / Carolinas / Bermuda)
- IUCN Red List
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- Not evaluated / Listed
- CITES
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- Not listed
- Length Max
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- 3.5
- Depth Range Min
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- 154
- Depth Range Max
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- 350