Description

Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12 - 13; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 12 - 14. Diagnosis: head and body strongly compressed; several rows of fine teeth in upper and lower jaw (Ref. 57403, 79590). Angle of mouth located below center or hind margin of eye (Ref. 57403). Interobital space 27-37% of eye diameter; 17-23 (perhaps up to 26) predorsal scales extending anteriorly to level of preoperculum or just behind eye; upper part of operculum scaled; about 57-69 scales in longitudinal series (54-66 on body and 3-5 scales on caudal fin base); 15-21 scales in rearward transverse series; 1st dorsal fin: VI; second dorsal fin: I,13 (rarely 12); anal fin: I,12-13 (perhaps 14); pectoral fins: 17-20; caudal fin lanceolate, its length about 40% of standard length, with 17 segmented rays, 15 of which are branched (Ref. 57403, 79590). Coloration: Preserved specimens: head and body generally pale or yellowish with indistinct pigmentation except for a dark triangular patch on operculum and a basicaudal spot; a faint large oval spot below 1st dorsal fin beneath pectoral fin rays often visible; anterior margin of 1st dorsal fin spine with 2-4 black spots; flanks pale with several diffuse dark areas along midline (Ref. 57403, 79590).

Common Names

No common names available.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Gobiiformes

Family: Gobiidae

Genus: Gobionellus

Species: Gobionellus occidentalis (Boulenger, 1909)

Climate Zone

Location

Biology

Occur inshore, over sand (Ref. 4343, 5299). Marine species also found in brackish waters (Ref. 57403, 79590), including lagoons (Ref. 57403, 79590) and estuaries (Ref. 4343, 5299, 57403, 79590) and in the lower course of streams (Ref. 4343, 5299). Adults may occupy subtidal burrows (Ref. 79590). Maximum reported total length 19.6 cm (Ref. 57403).

Habitat

freshwater