Species: Palatogobius grandoculus, Bigeye goby

Palatogobius grandoculus Greenfield, 2002

Bigeye goby

Body elongate, slender, slightly compressed; eyes very large (9.7-11.3% SL, ~1/2 head length), on top of head, narrow (1.6-1.9% SL) between them; snout very short (3.1-3.9% SL); 1 pore between each of front and rear edges of eyes, 1 pore before each eye, 2 pores behind each eye; a groove present between upper lip and snout; mouth large, very oblique ending under front edge of pupil; front of roof of mouth without teeth;  top jaws with outer row of large, pointed in-curved teeth on premaxilla, another row of similar smaller teeth inside that; lower jaw with two rows large, pointed in-curved teeth at front, a smaller inner row at rear; gill rakers 2+13; gill membranes broadly joined to body under throat, with 5 rays; dorsal fin VII, (flexible, none elongated) + I, 17-18; length of 2nd dorsal base > distance from 2nd dorsal base to tail fin; anal fin long based, I, 18-19; pectoral fins 21; pelvic fins I, 5, completely united, but without frenum between front spines; tail fin long, oval, rear edge with filaments,; body with smooth scales from tail base forwards to past dorsal fin origin, to above pectoral base, under pectoral base and on belly; no lateral line.  

Head and body translucent grey, with a yellow wash;  belly silvery, with a yellow wash; iris bluish above, greenish yellow in central part, dark bluey-grey below; operculum with a blue-white blotch at rear; dorsal fins grey, with yellow edge; anal fin with white rays, with yellow edge; tail fin with yellow rays, lower edge narrowly yellow; pelvics translucent white.

Reaches: ~4.5 cm.

Habitat: rocky slopes, sand and rubble.

Depth: 194-299 m.

NW and S Caribbean.