Species: Sicydium buscki, Busck’s Stonebiting Goby

Sicydium buscki Evermann & Clark, 1906

Busck’s Stonebiting Goby

Body elongate, square in cross-section, back broad and flat to slightly concave; head blunt, somewhat depressed; mouth opening angled downwards, overhung by snout, with thick lips; inside top lip with a papillae covered ridge; top teeth long and narrow, widely spaced, with tip curved, flattened and facing forwards, with a narrow longitudinal groove down its center, spatula like (but notched when worn), in 1 row of 25-50; lower teeth canine-like in male (1-8), conical in female (1-6), in a single row; dorsal and anal fins separate from tail fin; dorsal fin VI + I, 10 (9-10), 1st dorsal higher in adults, with spines 3-4 filamentous in males; anal fin I, 10 (9-11), directly opposite 2nd dorsal fin; pelvic fins united in a broad oval disc that is mostly fused to belly by membrane, with 6 stout radiating ridges on its bottom; pectoral rays 21 (19-22); tail fin rounded, 13-14 (11-16); scales small, 55-60 (49-71) lateral scales; scales rough along sides of body, upper and lower scales smooth; head, breast, pectoral base and belly scaleless.

Preserved fish tan; head with a dark bar from eye to rear of top lip; usually 6 broad dark bars on side of body, darker above; tail fin base with a dark bar or circular spot; 1st dorsal fin dusky, 2nd dorsal with black margin; anal fin with black edge in male; juveniles with stronger dark markings.

Reaches 9.5 cm.

Lives in streams, but enters brackish water.

Depth range: 0-2 m?

Cuba, Hispaniola and Puerto Rico to Trinidad.