GOBIIDAE


Fusigobius inframaculatus, 3.3 cm SL
(photo by Richiard Winterbottom)


Fusigobius inframaculatus
(Randall, 1994)
Interspotted Sandgoby

D VI+I, 9; A I, 8; P1 17-19; LR 23-24; PDS 0.

Body moderately elongate, compressed posteriorly. Head subcylindrical; snout pointed; lower jaw slightly projecting beyond upper jaw; gill opening not extending anteriorly to a vertical through posterior margin of preopercle; tongue rounded or near truncate. First spine of first dorsal fin elongate, filamentous; no filamentous pectoral-fin rays free from membrane; pelvic fins united medially; frenum present. Scales on body ctenoid, exclusive of side of nape, breast and pectoral-fin base with cycloid scales; head naked. Sensory canals and pores present on head; reduced longitudinal pattern of sensory papillae on cheek; a pair of sensory papillae just behind chin. Color: head and body pale (subtranslucent when alive) with numerous orange spots; 3 subcutaneous black blotches along vertebral column, in addition to a large black blotch at caudalfin base; dorsal-fin filament white. Size: 4.0 cm SL. Distribution: Indo-West Pacific. Remarks: found on flat sandy bottoms in coral reefs.