A taxonomic revision and cladistic analysis of the oxudercine gobies (Gobiidae: Oxudercinae)

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The gobiid subfamily Oxudercinae was revised to assess the monophyletic nature of the subfamily; the intergeneric relationships within the subfamily; the relationships of oxudercines to other gobiid genera; the recognisable species and their distinguishing characters; and the distribution patterns of the subfamily and component taxa. The following results were obtained: (1) The Oxudercinae can be defined on the basis of derived states of certain neurocranial bones and muscles, eye position, nasal flap morphology, the palatine-ectopterygoid arrangement, reduction in size of the premaxillae ascending processes, and in having a single anal fin pterygiophore anterior to the first hemal spine. (2) Within the subfamily, one undefined and nine monophyletic terminal assemblages are recognised, with relationships amongst them based on derived states of various morphological features. These assemblages are recognised at the generic level and one new genus (Zappa) is described; a key to the genera is provided. Thirty four species are recognised of which one (Boleophthalmus birdsongi) is described for the first time. Each species is described in detail and a key is provided for each genus. (3) Two monophyletic assemblages (one comprising three genera, the other seven) are recognised at the tribal level. Defining characters for each tribe are provided and illustrated. (4) Biogeographic analysis indicated that nine of the ten genera are distributed in an area bounded by the Arabian Gulf to the west, southern Japan to the north, northern Australia to the south, and Papua New Guinea to the east. The remaining genus, Periophthalmus, overlaps and exceeds the above limits, ranging from west Africa eastward to Samoa. Species-specific correlations linking Periophthalmus with mangrove distributions are discussed.

Food preference of the giant mudskipperPeriophthalmodon schlosseri(Teleostei : Gobiidae)

“…The Rhizophora sp. δ 15 N value was lower than the minimum range of food items for female and male P. schlosseri, thus confirming field observation reports Murdy, 1989;Clayton, 1993;Larson and Lim, 2005;Mazlan et al, 2006) claiming that this species is a carnivorous fish. In the case of juveniles of indeterminate fish species and big-size Uca sp.…”

“…than other food types. This could be due to their exploring and territorial behaviour (Murdy, 1989;Mazlan et al, 2006). Since Uca sp.…”

“…In Malaysia, the mangrove area is estimated to be around 530 000 ha. The mudskippers can be found on tidal flats and in mangrove swamps that formed in creeks, estuaries and coastal waters during low tide (Tytler and Vaughan, 1983;Murdy, 1989;Graham, 1997;Takita et al, 1999). They spend extensive periods of time out of water and have numerous physiological, morphological and behavioural specialisations for amphibious life (Clayton, 1993;Lee and Graham, 2002).…”

“…Studies on feeding behaviour of P. schlosseri are very limited and are only based on field observation. It is reported as a carnivore and feeds mainly on crabs and other locally abundant animals, including syntopic species of mudskippers living on the mudflat and mangrove area Murdy, 1989;Clayton, 1993;Larson and Lim, 2005). Mazlan et al (2006) reported the foraging behaviour and food selection of P. schlosseri mainly on the fiddler crabs (Uca sp.).…”

Phylogenetic Analysis of the Genus Gobionellus (Teleostei: Gobiidae)

“…The consistency index for each character follows the character state descriptions. (Murdy, 1989), and the Mugilogobiusgroup gobionellines Gobiopterus and Calamiana variegata (Larson, 2001).…”