Species: Microgobius signatus, Signal Goby

Microgobius signatus Poey, 1876

Signal Goby

Head and body compressed; a fleshy crest on nape in both sexes; 3 pores on preopercle, no pore between front of eyes; mouth large, inclined at 45 degrees; tip of tongue divided; no teeth on front of roof of mouth; lower jaw with 4-5 enlarged teeth in outer row; gill membranes broadly joined to body under throat, with 5 rays; dorsal fin VII, 1st spine elongate in females not males, + I, 19-20 rays; length of 2nd dorsal base > distance from 2nd dorsal base to tail fin; anal fin I, 20 (occasionally 19) rays; pectoral fin 19-22; pelvic fins I, 5, fused to form disc; tail fin long, oval; scales small, mostly smooth; body scaled from rear forward to tip of depressed pectoral fin, head scaleless; lateral scale rows range 77-90; no lateral line.

Males: body uniformly light brown; head with two pale blue stripes; top of body along dorsal-fin base with 8-10 short, dark lines; a small dark spot on upper tail fin base; a vertical pale bar with darkened borders extending from the front of first dorsal fin to the pectoral fin; dorsal fins with reddish base, yellow center and pale blue submarginal stripes; tail fin reddish, with upper and lower yellow stripes. Female similar, but lower tail base pale greenish-yellow running into stripe of the same color on the tail; upper tail with yellow spots.

Reaches: 6.0 cm.

Depth: 1-10 m.

Habitat: sandy bottom areas around islands and coasts.

Cuba to the S Caribbean.