A revision of the gobiid fish genus Odontamblyopus (Gobiidae: Amblyopinae)

Abstract

The Indo-West Pacific gobiid genus Odontamblyopus Bleeker is defined and revised. Odontamblyopus is unique within the Amblyopinae in having free and silklike pectoral-fin rays. Odontamblyopus comprises four species: O. lacepedii, distributed from southern China to Taiwan, Korea, and Japan; O. roseus, distributed along the west coast of India; O. rubicundus, ranging from the east coast of India to Myanmar; and O. tenuis, known only from Pakistan and Myanmar. A key to species is provided. Figures and descriptions of each species are also given. Odontamblyopus has often been confused with Taenioides; the two genera are compared and characters to distinguish them are provided. The phylogeny and biogeography of Odontamblyopus are discussed.

First record of the burrowing goby, Trypauchen vagina (Actinopterygii: Gobiidae),from the Iranian coast of the Persian Gulf

“…All morphological findings in our study (Tables 1 and 2) correspond well with those of Murdy (2006).…”

“…This goby inhabits shallow coastal waters of the western Pacific and Indian oceans including the coasts of Kuwait, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, and China (Murdy, 2006). There are also 2 reports of this species' occurrence in the Mediterranean Sea as a lessepsian species (Salameh et al, 2010;Akamca et al, 2011).…”

“…Specimens were preserved in 4% neutralized formalin and catalogued in the Aquatic Animal collection of Tarbiat Modares University (TAC1001-4-92). The morphometric and meristic characters are compared with those reported by Murdy (2006). All measurements were taken point to point by calipers to an accuracy of 0.02 mm (Keivany et al, 2012).…”

“…The morphometric and meristic characters used for identification of T. vagina were as follows (Murdy, 2006): total elements in dorsal fin 50-58 (this study: 54-57); total elements in anal fin 43-50 (43-47): caudal vertebrae 23 or 24, typically 24 (24); SL typically 84% or more of total length (89%); head length less than 18% of SL (15.3%); predorsal length less than 22% of SL (20.6%); prepelvic length less than 18% of SL (15.8%); preanal length 36% or less of SL (34.8%). All morphological findings in our study (Tables 1 and 2) correspond well with those of Murdy (2006).…”

“…Given this ability, T. vagina is probably more widespread than collections indicate. The only other record of T. vagina in the Persian Gulf is a specimen collected from Kuwait by James M Bishop on 20 Aug 1985 (Murdy, 2006). In Iran, we collected specimens from the Khoran Strait area north of Qeshm Island, which is a shallow muddy coastline (5-10 m) and affected by the Kol Estuary.…”