Genus: Gobiomorus, Bigmouth Sleeper, Sleepers

GOBIOMORUS

SLEEPERS

Body elongate, cylindrical, narrowing to rear; head elongate, conical in profile, depressed above; mouth large, lower jaw projecting; teeth small conical, in several rows on jaws; teeth on front of roof of mouth; gill openings extend forward nearly to the level of the angles of the mouth, separated from each other by a very narrow isthmus; gill membranes with 6 rays; dorsal fins VI weak spines + I, 9, fins well separated, base of 2nd dorsal < distance from the end of that base to tail fin; anal fin with I spine; pelvic fins I, 5, long, completely and widely separated; scales rough on body, smooth on head, medium sized, ~ 45-65 in lateral series, on body, forehead, cheeks and operculum; no lateral line.

These fishes are usually found in freshwater, but some species enter brackish tidal areas.