Species: Carrigobius amblyrhynchus, Bluntsnout Goby

Carrigobius amblyrhynchus Smith & Baldwin, 1999

Bluntsnout Goby

Body slightly compressed; both nostrils tubular, front longer than rear; no head pores; snout very short and blunt, with a steep front profile; top jaw extends to a vertical under back half of eye; gill membranes broadly joined to body under throat, with 5 rays; dorsal fin VII (first spine elongate in adults, reaching middle of 2nd dorsal) + I, 10-11; length of 2nd dorsal base > distance from 2nd dorsal base to tail fin; anal fin I, 8-10; pectoral fin 17-19; pelvic fins I,5, fins separate, no frenum between spines or membrane connecting innermost rays, all rays branched (5th ray branched in adults), without fleshy tips to rays, rays only reach ~1/2 way to anus; no scales; no lateral line.

Background color pale yellowish brown, with a series of dusky blotches along side of body; a diffuse dark spot on cheek below eye; dark oblique bar from just behind opercle to above pectoral base and before dorsal origin; approximately 16 diffuse dark saddles, irregular and uneven in intensity, from head to base of tail fin; approximately 7 diffuse blotches on mid-side of body between pectoral fin and base of tail fin, with smaller blotches in between; pectoral fin uncolored; discrete, small dark spots on dorsal fin spines and rays; 3 oblique dark bars on tail fin.

Reaches 4.4 cm.

Habitat: Open sand patch in beds of turtle grass and spur and groove area in reef zone.

Depth range: 3-6 m.

The NW Caribbean.