Two new species of Elacatinus (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from the Mexican coast of the Gulf of Mexico

Abstract

Two new species of gobies (Teleostei: Gobiidae) were recently discovered off the coast of Veracruz, Mexico in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico. Elacatinus jarocho sp. nov. can be diagnosed from other species in the genus by the disjunct yellow lateral stripe restricted to the head and caudal fin base, the yellow medial stripe on the snout, and the black ovoid to rectangular spot at the base of the caudal fin, immediately ventral to the yellow dash. This species forms shoals in the water column close to rock and coral reefs, feeding presumably on zooplankton, a trait shared by only one other species in the genus. Elacatinus redimiculus sp. nov. can be diagnosed from other species in the genus by the distinct reddish orange blotches or broken bands on the head and 13 reddish orange to dark brown stripes between the pectoral and caudal fins. Both species are currently known only from the southwestern Gulf of Mexico from reefs within the Veracruz Marine Park off the coast of Veracruz, Mexico.