Gobius ater (Belloti’s goby) and G. paganellus (rock goby) are the only known species of Gobiinae in the northeastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and the Ponto-Caspian region with continuous oculoscapular canals. These continuous canals are seen as the result of a secondary reconnection of the anterior and posterior oculoscapular canals. Gobius ater and G. paganellus differ from Pacific species of Gobiinae with continuous oculoscapular canals. The latter have a single pore r/r1 while G. ater and G. paganellus have pores r and r1 well separated.