Bembrops gobioides (Goode, 1880)
Goby flathead
Bembrops gobioides
photo by NOAA\NMFS\Mississippi Laboratory

Family:  Bembropidae (Duckbill flatheads)
Max. size:  30 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 100 - 724 m
Distribution:  Western Atlantic: New York and northern Gulf of Mexico in USA to West Indies; southern limit uncertain
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 6-6; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16-17; Anal soft rays: 17-18. Membrane between first and second spines of first dorsal fin dark gray. Snout relatively short (1.0-1.2x eye diameter). Scales present on lateral and dorsal surfaces of snout. Upper jaw extending behind anterior margin of eye. Maxillary tentacle short and stumpy. Lateral line descending relatively abruptly beyond origin of pectoral fin, separated from origin of first dorsal fin by 4-6 rows of scales, from origin of anal fin by 5 or 6, and from insertion of anal fin by 3. No evidence of prolongation of any spine of first dorsal fin. Predorsal length for first dorsal fin almost equal to head length. Color in alcohol darker gray dorsally, lighter ventrally (Ref 13203).
Biology:  Enters shelf waters.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 29 January 2013 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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