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Species: Microgobius thalassinus, Green Goby

All Families:   All Genera:   All Species:

nape crest in female
narrow between eyes
body green
blue blotch (+/- blue bars): top belly
black spot rear D1
lower jaw ~8 canines
preoperculum 2 pores
scales mostly smooth
lateral scales 43-50

Microgobius thalassinus (Jordan & Gilbert, 1883)

Green Goby

Head and body compressed; narrow between eyes; crest on nape absent in males, low in females; 2 pores on preopercle, no pore between front of eyes; mouth large, ~45 degrees from horizontal, upper jaw slightly larger in males (<15% SL) than in females; tip of tongue divided; no teeth on front of roof of mouth; lower jaw with 7-9 enlarged canines in outer row; gill membranes broadly joined to body under throat, with 5 rays; dorsal fin VII, spines slightly produced as filaments in males, not produced in females, + I, 14-16 rays; length of 2nd dorsal base > distance from 2nd dorsal base to tail fin; anal fin I, 14-16 rays; pectoral fin 21-22 (19-23); pelvic fins I, 5, fused to form disc; tail fin long (but <40% SL), oval; scales small, mostly smooth; body scaled from rear forward to tip of depressed pectoral fin, head scaleless; lateral scale rows 43-50; no lateral line.

Color highly variable, depending on time of year; brilliant green color on body; belly with a blue area of varying size; three translucent bars crossing over body close behind head; head with two brilliant narrow blue and green stripes running across cheek below eye; dorsal whitish with two or three lengthwise series of large reddish-brown spots, 1st dorsal with a large black spot at upper rear edge, 2nd dorsal with a yellow stripe a little above its base; upper and central rays of tail fin marked with red.

Reaches 6.0 cm.

Depth: less than 1-15 m.

Habitat: sand and muddy bottoms habitats, including oyster beds, also in tidal pools.

Maryland to the SW Gulf of Mexico.


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Salinity
  • Marine
  • Marine Only
Inshore/Offshore
  • Inshore
  • Inshore Only
Water Column Position
  • Bottom
Habitat
  • Sand & gravel
  • Soft bottom (mud/sand/gravel/beach/estuary/mangrove/seagrass)
  • Sponges
  • Mud
  • Reef (rock/coral/oyster)
  • Reef and soft bottom
  • Reef associated (reef + edges-water column & soft bottom)
FishBase Habitat
  • Demersal
  • Reef Associated
Feeding Group
  • Carnivore
  • Data
  • Planktivore
Diet
  • Data
  • Zooplankton
  • Mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs)
Egg Type
  • Benthic
  • Data
  • Pelagic larva
Global Endemism
  • All species
  • Greater Caribbean non-endemic
  • West Atlantic Endemic
Regional Endemism
  • Continent
  • Continent only
  • Extends North of GC
  • GC non-endemic
  • All species
Residency
  • Resident
Climate Zone
  • Subtropical (23-35N, Florida / Carolinas / Bermuda)
  • Temperate (>35N)
IUCN Red List
  • Least concern
  • Listed
CITES
  • Not listed
Length Max
  • 6
Depth Range Min
  • 1
Depth Range Max
  • 15