Relevant synonyms None Misidentification None Meristic formula D1, VII, D2, 12-14; A, I+10-11; P, 20; V, I+5; LL, 53  photo : N. Lazarus

SHORT DESCRIPTION Body elongated and round in cross-section in its anterior part, becoming slightly compressed toward the caudal peduncle. Two dorsal fins. Anal opposite second dorsal fin, caudal fin round. Pelvic fins connected, forming a sucking disk which originates behind pectoral fin base. color : body: brown to beige, with two complete or barely noticeable longitudinal dark brown stripes. The upper stripe runs from just above the eye, close to dorsal fins base, to the caudal peduncle. The lower stripe runs from the snout through the eye to the caudal peduncle. Fins transparent or light grey with grey spines and rays. size : common 4-8 cm (max. 10 cm). DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS Other gobies: without two longitudinal stripes; different arrangement of the sensory pores on the head [see Akihito and Sakamoto (1989) and Goren et al. (2009)]. Gobiesocidae: a single dorsal fin. Other families: pelvic fins are not united to form a sucking disk. BIOLOGY / ECOLOGY Demersal spawner. Eggs guarded by the male. habitat : stony or sandy substrate in marine or brackish waters to depths of 4-5 m.

1st MEDITERRANEAN RECORD 2009, Ashdod Port, Israel (specimen from 2006). DISTRIBUTION Worldwide : Far East from Siberia to Japan and Australia. California and the Black Sea (probably as an alien species). Mediterranean : Israel. A single specimen was collected from Ashdod Port, Israel; however, several specimens have been observed. ESTABLISHMENT SUCCESS Rare. speculated reasons for success : MODE OF INTRODUCTION Probably ballast water. IMPORTANCE TO HUMANS None.

KEY REFERENCES Akihito [Emperor] and Sakamoto K., 1989. Reexamination of the status of the striped goby. Japanese Journal of Ichthyology 36(1): 100-112. Froese R. and Pauly D. (eds). 2013. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication: www.fishbase.org Goren M., Gayer K. and Lazarus N., 2009. First record of the Far East chameleon goby Tridentiger trigonocephalus (Gill, 1859) in the Mediterranean Sea. Aquatic Invasions 4(2): 413-415. FEEDBACK / COMMENTS TO AUTHORS

Last update of the species sheet: November 2013 ©ciesm 2002