Eleotris valadei

biology_ecology

Ecology The species is supposed to be amphidromous. It is found in the lower part of the river, near the estuary. It lives in muddy to clear rivers with sandy to gravel bottom between 0 to 5 meters in altitude. It is carnivorous.

Eleotris (Teleostei: Eleotridae) of the Indian Ocean: an overview with the description of three new species

description

Description Scale counts in Eleotris valadei sp. nov. and related species are given in table VI, ray counts in table VII and morphometrics in table VIII. Below, the holotype counts are given first followed in brackets, if different, by the paratype counts. The body is elongated. The body depth at anus is 21 (19 - 24 % SL) and the caudal peduncle depth is 14 (13 - 17 % SL). Predorsal length 45 (42 - 49 % SL) and preanal length 66 (67 - 70 % SL). The head 33 (33 - 39 % SL) is broad and depressed, the snout is pointed. Eyes high on head. The mouth is large, as the jaw length is 12 (11 - 15 % SL), and oblique, the posterior margin of upper jaw reaches the vertical through the two thirds of the eye. Upper and lower jaws with multiple rows of small inwardly curved teeth; larger on outer row on upper jaw and larger on inner jaw on lower jaw; a few small caniniform teeth in posterior position. Dorsal fins VI-I, 8 - 9; D 1 separate from and slightly higher than D 2; spines not elongated. Anal fin I, 8 - 9 and directly opposite to second dorsal fin. Pelvic fins separate, I, 5. Pectoral fins 18. Caudal fin pointed with 15 branched rays. Cycloid scales on top of head, nape, cheek, operculum, p

Eleotris (Teleostei: Eleotridae) of the Indian Ocean: an overview with the description of three new species

diagnosis

Comparison Eleotris valadei differs from the other species sequenced that occur in the area studied by having a high % of divergence in COI gene (6.8 - 14.6 %). Eleotris valadei n. sp. differs from the other species of the Indian Ocean with a ‘ 2.3.4 ’ pattern by several characters. It differs from E. soaresi in having more scales in lateral series (59 - 64 versus 50 - 56), more scales in transverse forward series (27 - 30 versus 22 - 24), in predorsal series (45 - 50 versus 39 - 43) and in zigzag series (13 - 15 versus 12 - 13). It differs from E. diamsoi n. sp., this paper, in having 18 pectoral fin rays versus 16, more scales in transverse forward series (27 - 30 versus 17 - 23), in predorsal series (45 - 50 versus 36 - 38), and a higher body depth at dorsal fin origin (19 - 24 versus 15 - 18).

Eleotris (Teleostei: Eleotridae) of the Indian Ocean: an overview with the description of three new species

diagnosis

Diagnosis The species is distinguished by: second, third and fourth suborbital free neuromast rows on cheek extending ventrally past horizontal row d (‘ 2.3.4 ’ pattern), row os connected with row oi at ventro-posterior margin of operculum (‘ closed’ pattern); 18 pectoral fin rays; 59 - 64 scales in lateral series and 27 - 30 scales in transverse forward series.

Eleotris (Teleostei: Eleotridae) of the Indian Ocean: an overview with the description of three new species