Douglass F. Hoese

Paraxenisthmus springeri, New Genus and Species of Gobioid Fish from the West Pacific, and Its Phylogenetic Position within the Xenisthmidae

Paraxenisthmus springeri is described from two specimens from the Solomon Islands. It is unique among xenisthmids in having: vomer with two separate patches of teeth; palatine with elongate patch of teeth; coronomeckelian bone present; dorsal postcleithrum present; ceratobranchial 5 broad; infrapharyngobranchial 2 broad, with two anterior cartilage heads and well-developed tooth patch; infrapharyngobranchial 4 present; infrapharyngobranchial 4 toothplate large; and basibranchial 3 present. Based on a cladistic analysis of osteological and external characters, Paraxenisthmus is the sister group of a monophyletic group that includes all other xenisthmid genera (Allomicrodesmus, Rotuma, Tyson and Xenisthmus). Further evidence is presented that Allomicrodesmus, Rotuma, and Tyson form the sister group of Xenisthmus.

Larval Development in Two Genera of the Indo-Pacific Gobioid Fish Family Xenisthmidae: Allomicrodesmus and Xenisthmus

(DWG) DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII, HONOLULU, HAWAII 96822; (LTF) DEPARTAMENTO DE CIENCIAS MARINAS, INSTITUTO TECNOLOGICO Y DE ESTUDIOS SUPERIORES DE MONTERREY-CAMPUS, GUAYMAS, APARTADO POSTAL 484, GUAYMAS, SONORA 85400, MEXICO; (RKJ) GRICE MARINE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY, COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON, 205 FORT JOHNSON, CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA 29412. Submitted 15 Oct. 1991. Accepted 2 Jan. 1992. Section editor: R. Winterbottom.

Description of two new species of the genus Priolepis from the Indo-Pacific with redescription of Priolepis profunda and Priolepis psygmophilia

Priolepis akihitoi is described as new from Australia, New Caledonia and Japan. The species is distinctive in having a transverse papilla pattern, second dorsal rays usually I, 11, predorsal fully scaled and dark bars dorsally on the caudal fin. Priolepis cyanocephala is described as new from eastern Australia and Lord Howe Island. It differs from other species in having a reduced transverse papilla pattern, second dorsal rays I, 10, predorsal largely naked and head with vertical bands, but no bands on the body. Priolepisprofunda is redescribed based on material from northwestern Australia and Thailand, and photos of specimens from Indonesia, New Guinea and the Philippines. Priolepis psygmophilia is redescribed based on recently obtained material from the Kermadec Islands and other material from Lord Howe Island, Easter Island and Rapa Island.

Revision of the Eastern Pacific Species of the Genus Barbulifer (Pisces: Gobiidae)

is redescribed based on large collections from the Gulf of California. The species is restricted to the Gulf and shows little apparent variation. Barbulifer mexicanus, from Mexico, is described as new. A key is given to all species of the genus. Two species occur in the tropical western Atlantic, B. ceuthoecus and B. antennatus, and the former species has recently been collected from the Pacific coast of Panama. The genus is diagnosed and it is suggested that Barbulifer is closely related to Aruma. Both genera are members of the tribe Gobiosomini.

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

The gobiid genus Trimma currently contains 75 valid species, with another 20-30 known but undescribed species. There are 29 species in Australian waters (six undescribed). This paper describes the six new species, and provides redescriptions of most of the 23 previously described species known from the region, as well as a key for all the species. The six new species are: T. insularum (endemic to Cocos (Keeling) Islands), T. kitrinum (Fiji to Great Barrier Reef), T. meristum (Cape York to the Bismark Archipelago and Fiji), T. pentherum (Great Barrier Reef to Fiji and the South-West Islands of Palau), T. readerae (Australia to Japan), and T. xanthum (Palau to Fiji, Great Barrier Reef to Christmas Island). The following 23 species have been recorded from Australian waters, and most are redescribed here: T. anaima (Comores to Fiji), T. annosum (Maldives to the Phoenix Islands, Taiwan to the southern Great Barrier Reef), T. benjamini (southern Vietnam to the Marshall Islands, Samoa and southern Barrier Reef), T. caesiura (Ryukyus through the Marshall Islands to Samoa and Elizabeth Reef on the Lord Howe Rise), T. capostriatum (New Caledonia to eastern Australia and Papua New Guinea), T. maiandros (Java to the Ryukyus, Marshalls to Great Barrier Reef), T. emeryi (Comores to Ryukyus and Samoa), T. fangi (western South China Sea through to the Solomons), T. flavatrum (Ryukyu Islands to Western Australia and Samoa), T. hoesei (Chagos Archipelago, central Indian Ocean to Palau and Solomons), T. lantana (Australia, Solomons, northern New Guinea, South-West Islands of Palau), T. macrophthalmus (Ryukyu Islands to Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Samoa), T. milta (Taiwan to Western Australia, Society Islands and Hawaii), T. nasa (Sumbawa, Indonesia to Fiji), T. necopinum (northern tip of Cape York to Sydney), T. nomurai (Japan to northern Australia and New Caledonia), T. okinawae (western Thailand to Japan and the Phoenix Islands, north-west Australia to the Great Barrier Reef), T. preclarum (Palau to Fiji, Great Barrier Reef), T. stobbsi (Maldives to New Caledonia), T. striatum (Maldives to Palau, to northern Australia), T. taylori (Red Sea to Hawaii and Society Islands), T. tevegae (Red Sea to Ryukyu Islands, Marshall Islands to Samoa), and T. unisquame (Comores to Hawaii and Easter Island).

A new species of the eleotrid genus Thalasseleotris (Teleostei: Gobioidei) from New Zealand coastal waters

Abstract The eleotrid Thalasseleotris iota sp. nov. is described from reef habitats in New Zealand coastal marine waters at 2–34 m depth. It is distinguished from its only known congener, T. adela Hoese and Larson, from Australia, by having a narrower gill opening with lower edge extending forward to below posterior margin of eye or slightly behind eye (versus under middle of eye), less extensively scaled body, with naked area reaching to below second dorsal origin or beyond (versus near end of first dorsal fin), higher transverse scale count (usually 7–8 versus 6–7), lower vertebral count (10+16 versus 10+17), anterior nasal tube distinctly longer than posterior nasal tube (versus sub‐equal); two anal pterygiophores before first haemal spine (versus 1), and the uppermost and lowermost scale on base of caudal with enlarged peripheral cteni (versus no enlarged peripheral cteni). In addition, there are several colour differences, including a broad dark area on the basal third of the pectoral fin (versus absent) and thin wavy‐grey lines crossing dorsal, anal and caudal fins (versus absent). Maximum adult size is 32.6 mm SL (39.4 mm total length), which makes the pygmy sleeper one of New Zealands smallest known vertebrate species.

Description of a new species of Tomiyamichthys from Australia with a discussion of the generic name

Tomiyamichthys levisquama is described as a new species from the Northern Territory and Queensland, Australia from estuaries and soft bottom marine environments. It is distinctive in body and head shape, head coloration and by the absence of ctenoid scales on the body. It is compared with the related species Tomiyamichthys russus (Cantor 1849), which has ctenoid scales on the posterior part of the body. The validity of the name Tomiyamichthys over Flabelligobius is discussed, with both genera being described in the same paper, here accepting Tomiyamichthys as the appropriate name.

Descriptions of three new species of Glossogobius (Teleostei; Gobiidae) from New Guinea

Three new species of Glossogobius are described from New Guinea. Glossogobius multipapillus, n. sp. from northeastern New Guinea has a lobed mental fraenum and a distinctive papilla pattern unlike any other species in the genus. Glossogobius sentaniensis, n. sp. is described from Lake Sentani. The species is similar to Glossogobius aureus and G. koragensis differing in head pores and large dark spots on the body. Glossogobius macrocephalus n. sp. from Lake Tebera and surrounding rivers has a lobed mental fraenum and differs from other species in the Glossogobius celebius group in the combination of having a large head, head pore, fin-ray and predorsal scale counts.

A new species of Near-shore Marine Goby (Pisces: Gobiidae: Nesogobius ) from Kangaroo Island, Australia

Nesogobius is one of two goby genera with all species wholly restricted to temperate Australian waters. Described here is a new member of the genus discovered during near-shore marine and estuarine fish sampling along the central southern Australian coastline. The tiger sandgoby Nesogobius tigrinus sp. nov. is distinguished from other congeners by a combination of colouration including four prominent vertical black bars on males; morphological characters involving body scales (large), head scales (naked), body depth (slender) and gill opening (wide); meristic counts including a lack of second dorsal and anal fin spines; and mitochondrial DNA sequence divergence. The species appears to be a narrow range endemic, restricted to specific sub-tidal habitat in the unique sheltered embayments of northeast Kangaroo Island. This study forms part of ongoing investigations to more fully describe the biodiversity and conservation requirements of the regional ichthyofauna.

Description of a new species of Trimma (Perciformes: Gobiidae) from the Red Sea, with a discussion of the generic separation of Trimma and Priolepis, with discussion of sensory papillae terminology.

A new species of Pygmygoby, Trimma quadrimaculatum, n. sp., is described from the Saudi Arabian coast of the Red Sea on the basis of 16 adult specimens. It is small-sized species, with the largest examined specimen reaching only 16.8 mm SL. The new species has characteristics of both Priolepis and Trimma, and easily may be confused with Priolepis randalli and Trimma mendelssohni; it can distinguish from other species by combination of characters: dorsal-fin rays D VI + I,8; anal-fin rays I,7; longitudinal scale series 23-25; median predorsal scales 6-8 (usually 7 or 8); head naked; a pair of modified elongate papillae on nape; fifth pelvic-fin ray with 2 dichotomous branches; body with broad, irregular, brown bars, last bar posteriorly on caudal peduncle extending basally on to rays of caudal fin; head with three dark brown bars below eye; four subcutaneous dark brown spots ventrally on posterior half of body; and basal quarter of second and third membranes of first dorsal fin with diffuse dark blotch. Placement of the new species in Trimma is based on the presence of more characteristics currently associated with Trimma than with Priolepis. The generic separation of the two genera is discussed, suggesting that further work is needed to clarify the separation of these two genera.