678 Gobioidei, Discocephali, and Tzniosomi 
translucent is the little Japanese shiro-uwo, or whitefish, Leuco- 
psarion peterst. Mustichthys luzonius of the Philippine Islands, 
another diaphanous goby, is said to be the smallest of all verte- 
brates, being mature at half an inch in length. This minute 
fish is so very abundant as to become an important article of 
food in Luzon. The rank of “‘smallest-known vertebrate ’’ has 
been claimed in turn for the lancelet (Asymmetron lucayanum), 
the top minnow, Heterandria formosa, and the dwarf sunfish 
(Elassoma zonatum). Mustichthys luzonius is smaller than any 
of these, but the diminutive gobies, called Evzota, found in 
interstices of coral rocks are equally small, and there are several 
brilliant but minute forms in the reefs of Samoa. The snake-like 
Euteniichthys gilli of Japanese rivers is scarcely larger, though 
over an inch long. Typhlogobius californiensis, “the blindfish 
of Point Loma,’’ is a small goby, colorless and blind, found 
clinging in dark crevices of rock about Point Loma and Dead 
Man’s Island in southern California. 
Its eyes are represented by mere rudiments, their loss being 
evidently associated with the peculiar habit of the species, 
Fig. 591.—Euteniichthys gillit Jordan & Snyder. Tokyo, Japan. 
which clings to the under side of stones in relative darkness, 
though in very shallow water. The flesh is also colorless, the 
animal appearing pink in life. 
In the Japanese species Luciogobus guttatus, common under 
stones and along the coast, the spinous dorsal, weak in numer- 
ous other species, finally vanishes altogether. Other gobies 
are band-shaped or eel-shaped, the dorsal spines being continu- 
ous with the soft rays. Among these are the barreto of Cuba, 
Gobtoides broussonett, and in Japan Tentoides lacepedei and 
Trypauchen wake, the latter species remarkable for its strong 
canines. Fossil gobies are practically unknown. A few frag- 
ments, otoliths, and partial skeletons in southern Europe have 
been referred to Gobius, but no other genus is represented. 
