Species: Pinnichthys prolata, Platform Goby

Pinnichthys prolata (Hastings & Findley, 2015)

Platform Goby

Head 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 2X length rear one; mouth oblique, reaches under front edge of pupil; top jaws with a band of 4-5 rows of teeth, outer row larger, curved, more spaced apart; lower jaw with outer row of 4-5 canines at front; lower jaws with central patch 4 teeth wide anteriorly, teeth small, except 6 canines on each side; no teeth on roof of mouth; tongue tip slightly notched to straight; gill membranes broadly joined to body under throat, with 5 rays; gill rakers short, 3+8; dorsal fin VII (1st 5 more closely spaced than last 2, none elongated) + I, 10-11; length of 2nd dorsal base > distance from 2nd dorsal base to tail fin; anal fin I, 10-11, last ray may be branched; pectoral 17-19, longest rays in center; pelvic fins I, 5, completely separate, rays 1-4 branched, thin, without flattened tips, 4th is sometimes longest ray, reaching to rear of anus, 5th ray well developed, relatively long (from longer than 2nd ray to being the longest ray) unbranched, thin, without flattened tip, may reach well past anus; head, nape & upper back under 1st dorsal fin, front of pectoral base, center of belly and chest scaleless; body extensively scaled, scales in lateral series 34-37, originate under pectoral axil, most are weakly rough, smooth at front 2-7 rows on body and under bases of soft dorsal and anal fins; probably with large very rough scales on tail fin base; no lateral line.

Preserved fish pale yellowish; body with 6-7 wide dark bars that are broken just above center of side and continue as 3-4 dark saddles on back and extending onto dorsal fin as dark diagonal lines; center of flank with 7 irregular dark spots, 1st 5 rounded, last 2 elongate; base of tail fin with a dark T shaped mark; top of head with 2 large dark saddles that are broken into 3-4 spots over cheek and operculum; pelvics dark; pectorals clear, base with 1-2 large, elongate dark spots; tail fin with 3 dark bars; anal fin dark.

Reaches 3.1 cm.

Habitat: rock and sand.

Depth: 54-110 m.

South Carolina to the Gulf of Mexico.