spinycheek sleeper; spined sleeper
A species of sleeper goby (Eleotris oxycephala) found in brackish and fresh waters of Japan and East Asia.
The spinycheek sleeper is often seen in estuaries.
Katakana spelling is standard for this fish name; usually written in kana.
Kanji spelling exists but is rarely used; the word is usually written in kana.
The name literally means 'river conger eel' (川穴子), referring to its elongated shape and freshwater habitat, though it is not a true eel.