Species: Microgobius thalassinus, Green goby
narrow between eyes
body green
black spot rear D1
lower jaw ~8 canines
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 Texas.
High Resolution Map Download
- Salinity
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- Marine
- Marine Only
- Inshore/Offshore
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- Inshore Only
- Inshore
- Water Column Position
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- Bottom
- Habitat
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- Sand & gravel
- Reef associated (reef + edges-water column & soft bottom)
- Mud
- Soft bottom (mud/sand/gravel/beach/estuary/mangrove/seagrass)
- Reef and soft bottom
- Reef (rock/coral/oyster)
- FishBase Habitat
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- Reef Associated
- Demersal
- Feeding Group
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- Carnivore
- Planktivore
- Data
- Diet
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- Zooplankton
- Data
- Mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs)
- Egg Type
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- Data
- Benthic
- Pelagic larva
- Global Endemism
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- West Atlantic Endemic
- Greater Caribbean non-endemic
- All species.
- Regional Endemism
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- Continent only
- Extends North of GC
- All species..
- Continent
- GC non-endemic
- Residency
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- Resident
- Climate Zone
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- Subtropical (23-35N, Florida / Carolinas / Bermuda)
- Temperate (>35N)
- IUCN Red List
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- Least concern
- Listed
- CITES
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- Not listed
- Length Max
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- 6
- Depth Range Min
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- 1
- Depth Range Max
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- 15
