Genus: Gobulus, Gobies

GOBULUS

GOBIES

Slender, compressed body; distinctly depressed head; head without pores; mouth small, opens at front, oblique, lower jaw projecting, top jaw not extending beyond eye; teeth in bands on jaws, no canines; longitudinal and vertical rows of papillae on cheeks; gill membranes broadly joined to body under throat, with 5 rays; 1st dorsal fin with VII spines, none filamentous; length of 2nd dorsal base > distance from 2nd dorsal base to tail fin; pelvic fins I, 5, at most a small membrane between the front of the pelvic spines, fins form a flat plate; tail fin short, rounded; no scales; no lateral line; color pattern inverted (pale above and dark below).

This neotropical genus has 4 species; with 3 endemic to the tropical eastern Pacific.