Relevant synonyms Gobius ochetica Cabillus anchialinae Monishia ochetica Misidentification None Meristic formula D1, VI; D2, I+10-11; A, I + 9-10; P, 16-17; LL, 26-31; GR, 6

SHORT DESCRIPTION Body moderately elongated, becoming more compressed posteriorly. First dorsal rounded interspinulate membrane slightly incised. Small membrane binds the last dorsal spine to the first ray. Origin of second dorsal fin in front of anal fin origin. Caudal fin rounded. Pectoral fin rounded, its 2 uppermost rays free. Pelvic fins united forming a sucking disk. Large eyes placed dorsally. Mouth small with thick lips. Maxilla extend back to vertical of eye center. Teeth in 3-4 rows in each jaw, outer row with larger teeth. 7 transverse rows of papillae under the eye (suborbital) resembling small dots. color : unknown, due to lack of fresh specimen description. size : common 2-5 cm (max. 7 cm). DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS From other species of Gobiidae: the combination of the free uppermost pectoral rays, seven transverse rows of papillae on the suborbital. Completed anterior membrane of pelvic disc. Blennidae, Tripterygiidae, Clinidae and Callionymidae: two separate pelvic fins. BIOLOGY / ECOLOGY Unknown. habitat : small isolated rocks or hard objects in sandy substrate.

1st MEDITERRANEAN RECORD Port Said, Egypt, 1927. DISTRIBUTION Worldwide : known only from the Red Sea and Isthmus of Suez. Mediterranean : single record Port Said, Egypt (Norman, 1927). ESTABLISHMENT SUCCESS Unknown. speculated reasons for success : - MODE OF INTRODUCTION Via the Suez Canal. IMPORTANCE TO HUMANS None.

KEY REFERENCES Goren M., 1985. A review of the gobiid fish genus Monishia Smith, 1949, from the western Indian Ocean and Red Sea, with description of a new species. Contributions in Science. Number 360. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 9 pp. Norman J.R., 1927. Zoological results of the Cambridge Expedition to the Suez Canal. Transaction of the Zoological Society, London, 22: 375-389. FEEDBACK / COMMENTS TO AUTHORS

Last update of the species sheet: April 2002 ©ciesm 2002