Frogface goby

Appearance

Body elongate, compressed. Head slightly compresed; low raised cutaneous ridge along predorsal midline; small cutaneous bump on posterodorsal surface of eye; jaws subequal; single and 3-4 rows of teeth on upper and lower jaws, respectively; gill opening not extending anteriorly to a vertical through preopercular margin. No elongate and filamentous spines on dorsal fins; pelvic fins united medially; frenum present; caudal fin lanceolate, longer than head. Scales on body cycloid anteriorly, ctenoid posteriorly; head naked. Sensory canals and pores present on head; distinct transverse pattern of sensory-papillae rows on cheek. Color: head and body pale grayish brown, with a series of several large and small dusky blotches on midlateral body; distal margin of each scale on nape and dorsum dusky; a shadow-like dusky blotch beneath eye; crescentshaped dusky mark on base of pectoral fin. Size: 10.0 cm
Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 13. Body brown with 7-8 vertical dark brown bars (Ref. 2798); characterized further by pale brownish grey body color with orange spots/bands on cheek and operculum; united pelvic fins, well developed frenum present; long and pointed caudal fin, nearly twice length of head; longitudinal scale series 75-80; ctenoid scales posteriorly to below middle of first dorsal fin, becoming cycloid anteriorly; scales absent on head, midline of nape and prepectoral area; low fleshy ridge on midline of nape; depth of body 5.6-6.5 in SL.

Distribution

Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea south to Natal, South Africa and east to the tropical west Pacific.

Status

Least Concern IUCN.

Behavior

Dives head first into the mud for safety. Hides in a burrow, but can dive into mud to escape predators.

Habitat

Occurs inshore, mud bottoms of estuaries and protected bays. Found on open flat bottom and large adults mostly seen at about 30 meters depth.