Flathead Goby

Translucent, very finely dotted with red or black; two indistinct longitudinal rows of reddish dashes on back and one along lateral line; red line from upper lip to eye; a U-shaped reddish mark on each side of occiput behind eye (Ref. 27362). Caudal fin rounded (Ref. 27362); characterized further by having an extremely flattened head; unrestricted gill opening; unbranched 6-9 lowermost pectoral rays and thickened distally; longitudinal scale series 28-37; predorsal scales 10-13; depth of body at anus 5.1-9.4 in SL (Ref. 90102).

Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7 - 8; Analspines: 1; Analsoft rays: 8

Inhabits coral reefs (Ref. 42915). Commensal on foliaceous flattened sponges (Phyllospongia) (Ref. 27362, 48637).

Phyllogobius platycephalops, the Slender spongegoby, is a species of goby native to the western Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean where it occurs on reefs at depths of from 2 to 18 metres (6.6 to 59.1 ft). This species is a commensal on sponges of the genus Phyllospongia. This species grows to a length of 5 centimetres (2.0 in) SL. This species is the only known member of its genus.