Species: Microdesmus hildebrandi, Dark-tailed worm-goby

Microdesmus hildebrandi Reid, 1936

Dark-tailed worm-goby

Slender, wormlike, body height 5% of SL; tail (without fin) 61% of TL; eyes tiny, high on side of head, skin covered; front nostril a tiny pore in folds near mouth, rear nostril a hole above and before eye; lower jaw strongly projecting, with angular tip; lips fleshy, with pronounced flanges on sides; snout blunt and square; snout and entire lower jaw with pronounced longitudinal folds; teeth in 2 irregular rows; gill opening large (not tubular), longer than base of pectoral; dorsal fin spines evenly spaced, 55 elements, origin over tip of pressed-down pectoral; anal II, 36; pectoral 10 rays, fin long; pelvics I, 3, shorter than pectorals; tail fin pointed; dorsal and anal fins confluent with tail fin; scales small, non-overlapping well separated; body and head scaled except for lower jaws and snout, in oblique rows at bases of dorsal and anal fins; scales with 24 radiating ridges.