The first record of burrowing goby Trypauchen vagina (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) (Gobiiformes: Gobiidae: Amblyopinae) from the Atlantic Ocean

Abstract

The burrowing goby Trypauchen vagina has been reported from Brazil for the first time. This goby occurs naturally in the Indo-Pacific region, where it is typically found burrowed in the bottom substrata of marine or brackish waters. Given its rapid development, extended longevity and multiple spawning cycles, the species is represented by large populations in Asian countries. The authors discuss the occurrence of this species in Brazilian waters and conclude that it was introduced via the ballast water of vessels arriving from Asia. They also compare this exotic taxon with the native Brazilian gobies, including Akko dionaea, Microdesmus and Gobioides, that have burrowing habits.

Trypauchen vagina (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) a new established species in the Southwestern Atlantic

“…Some of the fishes found in Brazil were collected near ports, São Marcos Bay is close to the Port of Itaqui (Trevisan et al., 2022) and reports from Santos (AZUSC 6933), Guarujá (AZUSC 6926, AZUSC 6928–6930) and Praia Grande (AZUSC 6927) were made close to the Port of Santos. These results support the theory that this gobiid was brought to Brazil through ballast water (Trevisan et al., 2022). Ship hulls are stable environments (David & Gollasch, 2015), and given the wide niche breadth and high environmental plasticity observed in the biology of T .…”

“…Letters represent the chronologic order of the registers. Superior left corner highlighted (red star) represents the first register in Maranhão, Brazil (Trevisan et al., 2022), the red arrow represents the new records (SP). The coastal distance between both registers correspond to 3.780 km.…”

“…The preserved specimens can be safely identified as T. vagina, based on counts and measurements (Table 1). These records represent another introduction event for this non-indigenous species (see Trevisan et al, 2022 for detailed comparison with native Brazilian gobies). The records include mature and juvenile individuals.…”

“…These records from the Mediterranean Sea were attributed to Lessepsian migration, which is the movement of animals from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal (Spanier & Galil, 1991), despite the lack of reports in the Red Sea yet. In addition, two specimens were reported from the Atlantic Ocean, in São Marco Bay, Maranhão, Brazil (Trevisan et al., 2022). Those registers have been attributed to dispersion by ballast water because of the distance from the original distribution range (Trevisan et al., 2022).…”

“…In addition, two specimens were reported from the Atlantic Ocean, in São Marco Bay, Maranhão, Brazil (Trevisan et al., 2022). Those registers have been attributed to dispersion by ballast water because of the distance from the original distribution range (Trevisan et al., 2022).…”