About Zosterisessor ophiocephalus (Pallas, 1814)
This species, Zosterisessor ophiocephalus (Pallas, 1814), is commonly known as the grass goby. Grass gobies can reach a maximum total length of 29.9 cm (11.8 in). Cycloid scales cover the crown of the head, nape, throat, belly, and bases of the pectoral fins, while the gill covers are completely naked. The abdominal sucker of this species has no blades and does not extend as far as the anus. Its mandibles are protrusive, and the soft skin is covered in mucus. The body has a green-brown base color, patterned with overlapping brown spots. Round light spots are present on the cheeks. The dorsal, caudal, and pectoral fins have longitudinal brown stripes set against a light background; the anal fin and abdominal sucker are dark. The species is widespread across the coastal waters of all seas in the Mediterranean basin. It is particularly abundant in the northern Adriatic Sea, the Venetian Lagoon, and France’s Sète Lagoon. It is also common across all coasts of the Black Sea, and is especially concentrated in the north-west’s lagoons and estuaries, Varna and Burgas Bays, the Sea of Azov, and Sivash.
