GOBIIDAE


Valenciennea sexguttata, 4.0 cm SL
(photo by Ukkrit Satapoomin)


Valenciennea sexguttata
(Valenciennes, 1837)
Sixspot Goby

D VI + I, 11-13; A I, 11-13; P1 19-21; LR 71-94; PDS 0.

Body moderately elongate, compressed. Head slightly compressed; lower jaw not projecting anteriorly beyond upper jaw; gill opening relatively narrow, restricted to pectoral-fin base. Third spine of first dorsal fin slightly elongate, forming pointed fin; pelvic fins separated; frenum absent; caudal fin rhomboid. Scales small ctenoid, excepting those on belly, prepelvic region and pectoralfin base, if present, cycloid; head naked. Sensory canals and pores present on head; longitudinal pattern of sensory- papillae rows on cheek. Color: head and body pale gray or pale beige; several sky spots on cheek and operculum; narrow longitudinal faint pinkish stripe on body; black spot on distal part of first dorsal fin just behind third spine. Size: 15.0 cm SL. Distribution: Indo Pacific. Remarks: found on flat sandymud bottoms with rubbles in shallow coastal waters.