A New Species of Lepadichthys (Gobiesocidae) from the Seychelles, Indian Ocean

Abstract

a part of the U. S. effort in Biology of the International Indian Ocean Expedition, was made by James E. Bohlke, Donald Dockins, Richard H. Rosenblatt, Walter A. Stark II, and James C. Tyler. Shallow-water fish collections were made during February and March 1964. The material, after being returned to Philadelphia, was sorted and found to contain specimens representing three species of clingfishes. The only clingfish previously known from the Seychelles was Aspasmodes briggsi Smith. This species was originally described from Aldabra (Smith, 1957:399) but later reported from the Seychelles (Smith and Smith, 1963). The Seychelles Program personnel collected 16 additional A. briggsi from three stations. Other specimens of this species were recently taken by Dr. Victor G. Springer at One Tree Island, Queensland, Australia, so it is now known to be widespread. Collecting by B6hlke, et al., was also carried out at the nearby Amirante Islands. Here, a single specimen of Lepadichthys bolini Briggs was taken. Since this species had been known only from the holotype taken in the New Hebrides (Briggs, 1962) it is interesting to have the second specimen turn up off the East African coast almost 8000 miles distant. Three specimens, representing an unknown species of Lepadichthys, were also taken. It is described below. This