Family: PTERELEOTRIDAE, Hover Gobies, Dart-Fishes
elongate
D IV-VI + I, 9-36
mouth ~vertical, lower jaw protrudes
teeth: 2 rows canines
teeth: 2 rows canines
pelvics nearly separate, I, 4-5
A I, 9-36
A I, 9-36
no LL
scales - small, smooth, imbedded
scales - small, smooth, imbedded
FAMILY PTERELEOTRIDAE
HOVER GOBIES, DART-FISHES
Hover or dart gobies have elongate, compressed bodies; head strongly compressed; mouth nearly vertical, lower jaw protruding; teeth canine-like; in 2 rows; dorsal fin IV-VI (flexible spines) + I, 9-36; anal fin I, 9-36; pelvic fins nearly separate I, 4-5; small, embedded, mainly smooth scales (except for a few rough scales on the rear body in some species); no lateral line.
Dartfishes live in burrows in sand bottoms, above which they hover while feeding mainly on zooplankton.
The Ptereleotridae contains five genera and ~35 species. In our region there 3 species of Ptereleotris, 1 endemic and 2 W Atlantic.
PREPARED BY D ROSS ROBERTSON & JAMES VAN TASSELL, AFTER THACKER (2002)
