A review of the Callogobius (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from the Red Sea with the description of a new species

Abstract

Five species of Callogobius Bleeker have been previously reported from the Red Sea: C. amikami Goren, Miroz & Baranes, C. clarki (Goren), C. dori Goren, C. flavobrunneus (Smith), and C. maculipinnis (Fowler). Records of C. bifasciatus (Smith) in the Red Sea are referable to C. clarki. Callogobius amikami has been previously known only from a single specimen, the holotype from the Red Sea, and two photographs, a live juvenile from Oman and a live specimen at an aquarium at Coral World, Eilat. We obtained a possible additional juvenile from the Red Sea, although we are unable to definitively determine its identity. Red Sea specimens previously identified as C. maculipinnis [or C. irrasus (Smith)] represent a new species, distinguished from the latter by normally having four sets of transverse mandibular rows on each side (rather than three); this species is described here as Callogobius pilosimentum sp. nov. Four specimens of an additional, undescribed species of Callogobius, C. sp. A, have been collected from the Red Sea, but we withhold a formal description because this species is currently under study by colleagues. Callogobius sclateri (Steindachner), previously known from the Indo-West Pacific, is reported from the Red Sea for the first time. A key to all seven species is provided. Each species is photographed, habitat is described and a brief description with detailed comparisons is provided. The new species and C. clarki are endemic to the Red Sea.

Holocene fish assemblages provide baseline data for the rapidly changing eastern Mediterranean

“…Small-sized fishes or those with cryptic lifestyles can be particularly hard to detect. All Callogobius species from the Red Sea, the most likely origin of the new introduced species reported here, are cryptobenthic and range in maximum size from 22 to 76 mm (median 38.5 mm; Delventhal et al, 2016). Amblygobius albimaculatus is an Indo-Pacific epibenthic species that builds burrows in the substrate and attains a size of just 18 mm (Hoese, 1986; Maugé, 1986; Randall, 1995).…”

Fishes in Marine Caves

“…The two morphological types adapted for life in cryptobenthic habitats and recorded in marine caves (i.e., small body size with stout body and large head; and small, elongated body with flattened head) are common in various marine cryptobenthic habitats of the Mediterranean Sea (see examples in Section 3.2.3) but can also be found in other oceans and seas. Such are the gobies of genus Priolepis Valenciennes, 1837, for the first body type, or the gobies of genus Callogobius Bleeker, 1874, for the second body type [157,158]. The adaptation type of small, slender and mostly uniformly red or orange-coloured body exists in fishes in marine caves which lie or hover over the cave bed, on cave walls or below ceilings, protected primarily by their poorly visible colouration in low blue light instead of hiding in holes and hollows for protection (Figures 10 and 15).…”

Callogobius williamsi, a new species of goby (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from the Marquesas Islands, with notes on the status of all nominal Callogobius species

“…Comparisons. At least two other species of Callogobius occur in French Polynesia, Callogobius sclateri (Steindachner, 1879) and a species provisionally identified as C. maculipinnis (Fowler, 1918) (awaiting a review of the maculipinnis species group; see Delventhal et al 2016). Callogobius williamsi is distinguished from C. sclateri by its mostly dark body colour vs. distinct contrasting bars, a darker area or black spot present on the caudal fin (not always visible due to dark fin colouration) vs. black spot absent on the caudal fin, pelvic fins united with a frenum vs. separate without a frenum, preopercular row (Row 20) absent vs. present, few or no ctenoid scales present vs. ctenoid scales distributed over the posterior portion of the body, and caudal fin usually longer than head length vs. shorter than head length.…”