Species: Coryphopterus lipernes, Peppermint Goby, Peppermint Sand-goby

Coryphopterus lipernes Bohlke & Robins, 1962

Peppermint Goby, Peppermint Sand-goby

Snout profile slightly rounded; low crest on top of head; head pores present, 2 between center of eyes, 1 pair between rear nostrils; papillae on cheek in horizontal rows; mouth small, relatively horizontal; tongue straight edged to lobed; gill membranes broadly joined to body under throat, with 5 rays; dorsal fin VI (second spine elongate) + I, 9; length of 2nd dorsal base > distance from 2nd dorsal base to tail fin; anal fin I, 9; pectoral fin 16-18; pelvic fins I, 5, almost completely separate, no membrane joining front of fins; body covered with scales, scales large, rough, absent from head, smooth on pectoral fin base, 26 in lateral series; no lateral line.

Head and body translucent yellow; top of snout blue, upper edge of eye blue, 3 blue lines back from eye, upper one very short, middle one back above belly, lower one to pectoral base; two dusky stripes on head behind eye; scales above midline outlined in dark pigment; anus centered in narrow dark ring, with reddish blotches.

Reaches 3 cm.

Habitat: Surface of live coral heads; usually solitary, but sometimes swims close to reef in small groups.

Depth: 6-125 m.

The Bahamas to the S Caribbean.