Bucchich's Goby

This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of characters: LL 51-55; predorsal scales 20-25; opercle naked (rarely with 2-4 scales visible); pectoral-fin rays 17-18; free tips on 3 upper pectoral rays moderately developed and the first ray shorter than half of the entire ray length; complete pelvic fin disc, its anterior membrane without lateral lobes; anterior oculoscapular canal with pore 'alpha' at rear of orbit; oculoscapular row x1 is not extending forwards to pore ß; suborbital row d is continuous; eye diameter 0.82-1.04 in snout length; there are 2 rows of elongated dots on the cheek and without dots between the middle of the cheek, the lower row starting anteriorly at the angle of mouth and going backwards across the cheek and opercle to the pectoral fin base, the upper row starting at upper lips, going posterodorsally to touch ventral margin of eye and continuing behind eye; upper mark on the pectoral fin single or doubled, reaching downwards to 6th - 7th rays counting from upper end (Ref. 110727).

Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14; Analspines: 1; Analsoft rays: 13 - 14

Occurs inshore over sand and mud with seagrass, taking refuge among tentacles of snakelocks sea anemone Anemonia sulcata. Also found in inshore pools. Feeds on polychaetes, crustaceans (esp. amphipods), mollusks, and algae.

All information on this speciesreamin to be reviewed because most likely applicable to Gobius incognitus. Use the current information with caution and criticism, and retain only those from the Adriatic and northern Ionian Seas. (Ref, 110727).

aquarium: commercial

Bucchich's goby (Gobius bucchichi) is a species of goby native to the Eastern Mediterranean Sea (at least the Adriatic and Aegean Seas) and perhaps the Black Sea. It has traditionally been considered to be more widespread, but in 2016 the similar incognito goby (G. incognitus) was described. It had been confused with the Bucchich's goby and much information formerly published for this species is now considered to actually be for the incognito goby.

The Bucchich's goby prefers coastal waters with a sandy or muddy substrate with seagrass patches or tide pools at depths of from 1 to 30 m (3.3–98.4 ft). Its diet consists of polychaete worms, amphipods, molluscs and algae. This species can reach a total length of up to 10 cm (3.9 in).