Abstract
Twelve microsatellite loci were isolated from and characterized for the black goby Gobius niger . These loci were tested on a total of 48 individuals from two geographically distant locations (Orbetello and Cattolica) and the number of alleles ranged from two to 18, with expected ( H e ) and observed ( H o ) heterozygosities ranging from 0·042 to 0·941 and from 0·042 to 0·917, respectively. The loci described were used to cross‐amplify other gobiid species belonging to Gobius , Zosterisessor , Lesueurigobius and Aphia .