Bathygobius curacao (Metzelaar, 1919)
Notchtongue goby

Family:  Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobiinae
Max. size:  7.5 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine
Distribution:  Western Atlantic: Bermuda, Florida (USA), and the Bahamas to northern South America.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 6-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 8-8. This species is distinguished by the following characters: 16-17 pectoral fin rays (rarely 15 or 18); 31-36 lateral scale rows; upper jaw length 11.1-15.0 % SL; predorsal squamation extending anteriorly to vertical through posterior margin of preopercle, sometimes slightly beyond this point; body variously covered in dark blotches, sometimes loosely forming 6-7 diffuse dark blotches of varying size down body, trunk typically with no apparent diagnostic pattern of pigment (Ref. 85559).
Biology:  Inhabits tide pools and shore waters, including mangrove areas (around muddy substrate near mangrove roots) and sheltered seagrass beds (rock and turtle grass) (Ref. 7251, 85559).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 11 February 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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