Species: Pinnichthys bilix, Double-filament Goby

Pinnichthys bilix (Hastings & Findley, 2013)

Double-filament Goby

Body compressed, deep, robust; head plump, slightly wider than deep, cheeks not puffed; head without pores; eyes large, close together, at top of head profile; most parts of head and nape with papillae; anterior and posterior nostrils tubular, front one longer; tongue tip slightly notched; lower jaw without large canines; gill membranes broadly joined to body under throat, with 5 rays; gill rakers 11; dorsal fin VII (spines I&II very long, filamentous, in females reach to between bases of 1st & last ray of 2nd dorsal + I, 11; length of 2nd dorsal base > distance from 2nd dorsal base to tail fin; anal fin I, 10-11; pectoral 19-20, pelvic fins I, 5, completely separate, rays 1-4 branched, 4th reaching to anus, 5th ray not branched, well developed, slightly > 2nd ray, longer than pelvic spine, tips of most rays slightly flattened; head & front of body scaleless, scales in lateral series 30-32, originate under pectoral axil, most are weakly rough, smooth on belly & around outside of rough patch on body; belly scaled; probably with large very rough scales on tail fin base; no lateral line.

Preserved fish pale yellowish; an indistinct dark blotch on end of tail base.

Reaches 4 cm.

Habitat: rock and sand.

Depth: 62-138 m.

Northern Bahamas to the southern Caribbean.