GOBIIDAE


Pleurosicya labiata, 2.3 cm SL
(photo by Richard Winterbottom)


Pleurosicya labiata
(Weber, 1913)
Thicklip Ghostgoby

D VI + I, 7-9; A I, 8-9; P1 15-18; LR 24-27; PDS 9-11.

Body moderately elongate, compressed. Head slightly depressed; snout pointed; upper jaw projecting anteriorly beyond lower jaw; lower jaw triangular; gill opening not extending anteriorly to a vertical through preopercular margin. Pelvic fins united medially; frenum present; skin around pelvic-fin spine thickened, forming a lobe-like appearance. Scales on body ctenoid; head naked. Sensory canals and pores present on head; reduced longitudinal pattern of sensorypapillae rows on cheek. Color: head and body subtranslucent, with numerous minute brown speckles. Size: 2.5 cm SL. Distribution: Andaman Sea and West Pacific. Remarks: found in coral reefs; commensal with sponges.