Relevant synonyms None Misidentification None Meristic formula D, IV+40-49; A, I+39-46; P, 15-18; LL, 80-115  photo : Daniel Golani

SHORT DESCRIPTION Body slender and compressed beyond the head. Upper profile of head convex. Several crests on top of the head. Slightly oblique mouth, reaching back to the vertical of the eye. In both jaws outer rows of recurved canine teeth and small sharp teeth in the inner rows. Very small rudimental eyes covered with layer of skin. Small pouch with horizontal slit on the upper margin of the operculum. Very long dorsal fin, originating slightly beyond pectoral fin origin, confluent with caudal fin. Anal fin originating at approximately third of body length and confluent with caudal fin. Pectoral fin crescent shaped. Funnel shaped pelvic fins. Body covered with small cycloid scales. color : body and pectoral fin uniformly red. Other fins translucent to off-white. size : common 10-20 cm (max. 23 cm). DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS The color pattern of this species differs significantly from all other Mediterranean species. BIOLOGY / ECOLOGY Burrows its body into mud or silt. Feeds on small invertebrates. habitat : benthic fish found mainly in muddy substrate. Enters estuaries and rivers.

1st MEDITERRANEAN RECORD 2009, Israel. DISTRIBUTION Worldwide : Indo-Pacific but not yet recorded from the Red Sea. Mediterranean : Israel and Turkey. ESTABLISHMENT SUCCESS Rare. speculated reasons for success : MODE OF INTRODUCTION Via the Suez Canal. IMPORTANCE TO HUMANS None in the Mediterranean.

KEY REFERENCES Akamca E., Mavruk S., Ozyurt C.E. and Kiyaga V.B., 2011. First record of the Indo-Pacific burrowing goby Trypauchen vagina (Bloch and Schneider, 1801) in the North-Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Aquatic Invasions, 6(supplement 1): S19-S21. Murdy E.O., 2006. A revision of the gobiid genus Trypauchen (Gobiidae, Amblyopinae). Zootaxa, 1343: 55-68. Salameh P., Sonin O. and Golani D., 2010. First record of the Burrowing goby, Trypauchen vagina (Bloch and Schneider, 1801) (Teleostei: Gobiidae: Amblyopinae) in the Mediterranean. Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria 40(2): 109-111. FEEDBACK / COMMENTS TO AUTHORS

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