Pinocchio Dwarfgoby

description

Description. Dorsal-fin rays VI-I, 9; anal-fin rays I, 8 [I, 7 (1), I, 8 (9)]; pectoral-fin rays 16 [15 (2), 16 (8)], rays unbranched; pelvic fin I, 4 + unbranched 5 th, which is 13.7 % [6.5 – 15.3 (11.0 %)] the length of the 4 th ray, 4 th ray bifurcated with each branch about 50 % of total length of the ray, similar to Fig. 2 of E. lacrimae in Sunobe (1988); 11 branched caudal-fin rays; segmented caudal-fin rays 17; lateral scale rows 25 (24 – 26, usually 25); transverse scale rows 7; vertebrae 25; first, second, and third dorsal-fin spines filamentous in males, extending back to about the third soft ray in the second dorsal fin; always lacking the POP and IT pores in the cephalic sensory-pore system, and the PITO and AITO pores are fused into one 50 % of the time; male genital papilla non-fimbriate. Measurements (based on holotype and 9 paratypes, 13.4 – 16.5 mm). Head length 33.4 (30.2 – 33.6, 32.3); origin of first dorsal fin 38.0 (35.6 – 39.5, 37.5); origin of second dorsal fin 56.4 (54.0 – 61.4, 58.0); origin of anal fin 62.3 (57.7 – 66.0, 62.2); caudal-peduncle length 22.9 (20.5 – 26.9, 24.3); caudal-peduncle depth 13.8 (10.3 – 13.8, 12.4); body depth 20.3 (20.1 – 23.9, 21.

Two new dwarfgobies from the Southwestern Pacific Ocean (Teleostei: Gobiidae: Eviota)

diagnosis

Diagnosis. The following combination of characters distinguishes E. pinocchioi from congeners: cephalic sensory-pore system always lacking POP and IT pores, PITO and AITO pores fused 50 % of time; dorsal / anal finray formula 8 / 8; pectoral-fin rays unbranched; 4 th pelvic-fin ray bifurcated with each branch about 50 % of the total length of the ray; unbranched 5 th pelvic-fin ray 6.5 – 15.3 (11.0 %) of 4 th; dorsal-fin spines filamentous in males, tubular anterior nares very long, length almost equal to pupil diameter, reaching well anterior to the upper lip, and black; in life body translucent and crossed by six narrow red bands and devoid of obvious dark marks on body when preserved.

Two new dwarfgobies from the Southwestern Pacific Ocean (Teleostei: Gobiidae: Eviota)

discussion

Remarks: Three specimens were collected in Indonesia that have the identical color pattern of E. pinocchioi, including the long black tubular anterior nares (Fig. 11). They are like E. pinocchioi in lacking both the POP and IT pores, but in addition lack more pores that are present in that species. ROM 85364 also lacks the PITO, SOT, and AOT pores. CAS 234099 and 234827 lack all pores. Often very small specimens may lack pores, but CAS 234099 is 15.3 mm, CAS 234827 is 14.8 mm, and ROM 85364 is 18.3 mm. In addition, E. pinocchioi has 15 – 16 (usually 16) pectoral-fin rays, whereas the Indonesian specimens have 16, 17 and 18. Because the Indonesian specimens share this unique color pattern with E. pinocchioi, have the same measurements and structure of the fourth pelvicfin ray (bifurcated with branches about 50 % of total length of the ray), we are hesitant to treat them as a separate species without further specimens and genetic information. Although the long black tubular anterior nares and more simple bifurcated pelvic-fin rays are similar to those in species of Sueviota, Winterbottom and Hoese (1988) did not list these as a synapomorphies for that genus. The branched 5 th pelvic-

Two new dwarfgobies from the Southwestern Pacific Ocean (Teleostei: Gobiidae: Eviota)

distribution

Distribution. Palau and possibly Indonesia. In Palau, the species has only been taken in the main island group and the middle of the South West Islands (Merir I.).

Two new dwarfgobies from the Southwestern Pacific Ocean (Teleostei: Gobiidae: Eviota)