Genus: Gobioides, Eel Gobies, Eel Goby

GOBIOIDES

EEL GOBIES

Body very elongate (depth 9-14% of SL), compressed, eel-like; head small (5-8% of SL), square; a pair of pores between front of eyes; eyes small (about 2x size of rear nostril), skin covered, high on side of head; mouth large, oblique, top jaw extends past eye, lower jaw projecting; teeth canine-like, in 1-3 rows on sides of jaws, 1 row in middle, outer row of teeth close-set; gill rakers short, blunt, 8-11; gill membranes broadly joined to body under throat, with 5 rays; one, long-based dorsal fin, with VII flexible spines, 14-19 rays; length of 2nd dorsal base > distance from 2nd dorsal base to tail fin; anal fin I (tiny), 13-19; pectorals about same length as pelvics; pelvics fused in rounded disc that is free from belly; tail fin long, pointed, broadly joined to dorsal and anal fins; scales small, smooth, on body and cheeks, front scales often imbedded; no lateral line.

A tropical to temperate genus of 5 species, found in the east and west Atlantic as well as our region, one W Atlantic species in our area.