Flame Goby

description

Description. The description is based largely on specimens from the Great Barrier Reef. Dorsal fin VI + I 9 (rarely I 8 or I 10 in 4 % of individuals, mean = I 9.0, n = 223), second spine longest often elongated into a short filament reaching to between bases of first to eighth segmented dorsal-fin rays when adpressed, first segmented ray of dorsal fin unbranched, anterior element of last element branched; anal fin I 9 (rarely I 8 or I 10, in 7 % of individuals, mean = I 8.9, n = 223), first ray unbranched, anterior element of last ray branched; pectoral-fin rays usually 18 (in 71 % of individuals); 16 (in 1.5 % of individuals), 17 in (17 % of individuals), 19 (in 10 % of individuals), mean = 17.9, n = 206, reaching just posterior to a vertical in line above and between anus and second segmented anal ray; upper 2 – 5 (usually 3 – 4) pectoral rays unbranched, central 5 – 16 (usually 8 – 12) branched, lower 2 – 7 rays unbranched; first four pelvic rays with 2 or 3 sequential branches and 3 – 4 terminal tips; fifth ray usually with two dichotomous branches (4 terminal tips), rarely with one or more small branches near tip of ray resulting in 5 – 7 terminal tips, 60 – 90 % length of fo

A revision of the Australian species of Trimma (Actinopterygii, Gobiidae), with descriptions of six new species and redescriptions of twenty-three valid species

description

Variation. Approximately twice as many females as males were found. Of the specimens examined 137 were females and 74 males. The two sexes differed little in average size with males averaging 13.6 mm SL and females size 13.3 mm, and the size difference was not significant (p = 0.15). Comparisons. In Australia the species is most likely to be confused with Trimma necopinum, which has similar fin-ray and scale counts and general reddish head and body colouration. See Comparison under that species. The species is most similar overall to Trimma flammeum from the western Indian Ocean. Comparison of data for over 200 specimens of T. macrophthalmus with 70 Trimma flammeum showed no statistically significant differences in scale and fin-ray counts. The only distinguishing features are the spot pattern on the pectoral-fin base and size of spots on the head and body. In Trimma flammeum the three spots on the pectoral-fin base are in the same position as those in T. macrophthalmus, but the spots are red in life and fade to light areas in preservative. In T. macrophthalmus the spots are dusky to dark brown and fade to grey spots in preservative. However, in specimens from some areas, such as t

A revision of the Australian species of Trimma (Actinopterygii, Gobiidae), with descriptions of six new species and redescriptions of twenty-three valid species

diagnosis

Diagnosis. A species of Trimma with a very narrow interorbital, a shallow groove before the middle of the eye, and no groove behind the eye; no scales in the predorsal midline, sides of nape scaled to a line extending from below a point between the first dorsal origin and the second dorsal spine, arching concavely to a point above and between the posterior opercular margin to the dorsal pectoral-fin insertion; cheek and operculum naked; nape crest low to above the posterior end of the operculum; pectoral fin with central rays branched (usually 8 – 12 branched rays, but varying from 5 – 15, increasing with size); pelvic fins form a plate, with the basal membrane connected to the tips of the fifth rays; fifth ray about 60 – 90 % the length of the fourth ray and branched dichotomously (usually twice, with 4 terminal tips); fourth ray ends before the anus; first to fourth rays with two or three sequential branches and 3 – 4 terminal tips; second dorsal spine longest, often elongated into a short filament; second dorsal and anal fin-rays usually I 9; head with large rounded or oval (red in life) spots, pectoral-fin base with 3 grey to black spots; body with reddish orange spots along th

A revision of the Australian species of Trimma (Actinopterygii, Gobiidae), with descriptions of six new species and redescriptions of twenty-three valid species

discussion

Discussion. The species is one of the smaller ones in the genus, and is generally less than 20 mm SL. The largest specimen is 22 mm SL from the southernmost locality known in Australia on One Tree Island, Queensland. The holotype ZUMT 30331 was not found by DFH in 1980 and was not found by W. Eschmeyer (in lit.) in 1997 and is apparently lost (I. Tomiyama pers. comm., 1980).

A revision of the Australian species of Trimma (Actinopterygii, Gobiidae), with descriptions of six new species and redescriptions of twenty-three valid species