The species of Pseudaphya (Teleostei: Gobiidae) and the evolution of aphyiine gobies

Abstract

The Mediterranean gobiid genus Pseudaphya Iljin, 1930, formerly containing two nominal species, the type Ps. ferreri (O. De Buen & Page, 1908) and Ps. pelagica De Buen, 1931, is now believed to be monotypic after examination of Adriatic material originally identified as Gobius pusillus Canestrini, 1861. The last is here provisionally regarded as Pomato‐schistus knerii (Steindachner, 1861). The genus Pseudaphya is redefined, with additional osteological features, and its single species, Ps. ferreri, redescribed. In comparison with other small transparent gobiids, Pseudaphya is shown to possess certain primitive features and a possible mode of evolution for this group of tiny gobies by neoteny from postlarvae of hill‐stream sicydiines is discussed. An origin from less specialized gobiines seems more acceptable.

Age and growth of <i>Crystallogobius linearis</i> (von Düben, 1845) (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from the Adriatic Sea

“…In the central Adriatic Sea, the crystal goby lies mainly between 30 and 40 m depth and constitutes a by-catch species of the A. minuta fishery. The offshore distribution and the pelagic mode of life of this species has also been reported by other authors (Miller, 1973;Iglesias et al, 1997). Larval and adult specimens of C. linearis were practically absent from the surface layer off the Catalan coast (NW Mediterranean Sea) and were almost exclusively collected at night (Olivar and Sabatès, 1997).…”

“…The life history of C. linearis therefore displays all the ecological and behavioural characteristics of most nektonic gobies (Collett, 1878;Honma, 1969, 1970;Miller, 1973), such as a short life-span (one or two years), a high reproductive effort during a long breeding season and a probable postspawning death of the adult specimens just after breeding.…”

“…All these species show body transparency and scarcity of melanophores, persistence of the swimbladder and a short and virtually straight alimentary canal. There is also a common evolutionary trend towards a reduction of the first dorsal fin, a change from ctenoid to cycloid scales and a more or less pronounced sexual dimorphism in dentition (Miller, 1973). The genus Crystallogobius appears to be the most specialised of this group.…”

“…Among the diverse modes of life of gobiids, some neritic species have been of special zoological interest because of the persistence of post-larval features of habit and anatomy into their adulthood (Miller, 1973). In European seas, such progenetic features occur in three monotypic genera: Aphia, Crystallogobius and Pseudaphia.…”

Ecología alimentaria del góbido transparente <i>Aphia minuta</i> (Pisces, Gobiidae) en el noroeste del mar Adriático

“…interestingly, all three species exhibit a pattern of larval characters also into adulthood, such as the scarcity of melanophores, the persistence of the swimbladder and the possession of a short, straight alimentary canal. From an ecological perspective, this was tentatively explained as an adaptation to pelagic or semipelagic life or, more likely, to a planktivorous behaviour of these species (Miller, 1973(Miller, , 1989.…”