The gobioid genus Gobioides Lacepede, 1800 shares with the amblyopine

gobies (Gobiidae: Ambtyopinae) an eel-like, elongate body with a continuous dorsal fin

and an affinity for shallow water, muddy bottom habitats. Due to similarities in external

morphology and habitat requirements, some workers considered Gobioides allied with

amblyopine gobies. Others, however, dispute a close relationship between Gobioides and

the Amblyopinae. Gobioides is easily distinguished from the Amblyopinae by its larger eyes (small in Gobioides vs. inconspicuous in the Amblyopinae), fewer dorsal and anal-fin rays (14-20 vs. 27-48), and different fin element to vertebra ratios (1:1 vs. 2:1). Gobioides reaches lengths of 500mm SL or greater whereas ambtyopines rarely exceed 300mm SL. Gobioides comprises five species (G.

africanus, G. broussoneti, G. grahamae, G. peruanus, and G. sagitta). Although these gobies

occupy habitats with similar conditions, Gobioides and amblyopines are nowhere

sympatric. Gobioides occurs in tropical and subtropical coastal waters of the eastern and

western Atlantic as well as the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean. In the eastern Atlantic, Gobioides

is known from Senegal to Zaire. In the western Atlantic, Gobioides is reported

from South Carolina to southern Brazil. In the eastern Pacific, Gobiodes is known from

Mexico to Peru.