Range: Shorelines of Florida, Bahamas, and the
northern Gulf of Mexico. Commonly found in rocky tidepools
and coral reefs.
Similar Species: The
Notchtongue Goby, Bathygobius curacao, occurs in similar
habitat as the Frillfin Goby and is similar in coloration.
The main way to tell the difference between the two species
is that the tongue of B. curacao is more deeply notched.
Identification: Frillfin
Goby coloration can vary between different shades of brown,
but is usually a dark color. The dorsal side, or back, is
often crossed by 5 black saddles, with the saddle below the
first dorsal fin being the broadest. The upper rays of the
pectoral fins also have feather-like “frills” on the very
tip (shown with arrow).
Note: Some of the
smallest fish in the world belong to this family. This fish
is a bottom-dwelling carnivore, feeding mainly on small
benthic invertebrates.
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