Gobiid Fish Research Articles

A new species of Schindler's fish (Teleostei: Gobiidae: Schindleria) from the Malay Archipelago (Southeast Asia), with notes on the caudal fin complex of Schindleria.

Schindleria macrodentata sp. nov., a new species of the paedomorphic gobiid fish genus Schindleria, is described from the Malay Archipelago. The two specimens were collected in 1929 during the "Dana Expedition" in the Molucca Sea between Sulawesi and Halmahera islands (00°29'N, 125°54'E) (Indonesia) and in the Sulu Sea close to Panay Island (11°43'N, 121°43'E) (Philippines). The new species is characterized by a slender body (body depth at pectoral fin base 3.6-3.7 % of SL and at anal fin origin 3.9-4.8 % of SL), a long second dorsal fin (first dorsal fin absent) originating distinctly anterior to the origin of the anal fin (predorsal length 61.8-65.2 % of SL and preanal length 71.7-75.8 % of SL), a short tail (from anus to tip of longest caudal fin ray) (22.1 % of SL), 19-20 dorsal fin rays and 10 anal fin rays, first anal fin ray below 9th dorsal fin ray, few large, widely spaced teeth in the upper and the lower jaws (7 on the premaxilla and 6 on the dentary), an elongated pectoral radial plate (length 3.7-4.5 % of SL) and, in the caudal skeleton, a procurrent ray with an additional spiny process at its base. No distinct urogenital papilla and no pigmentation on body are developed. In this study we present three morphological traits until now not considered as diagnostic characters for Schindleria, the shape of the pectoral radial plate, the shape of the last procurrent caudal spine and the shape of the arch formed by the lower jaw. We also discuss the caudal-fin skeleton of Schindleria, a character developing beyond the larval stages. The record of S. macrodentata is the first of the genus Schindleria for Indonesia and, at more than 100 km distant to the next shore, it is the first offshore record of a Schindler's fish.

Komposisi Makanan dan Strategi Makan Ikan Famili Gobiidae di Teluk Pabean, Indramayu

The objectives of this study were to identify and evaluate diet composition and feeding strategy of Gobiid fishes in Pabean Bay, Indramayu. Fishes were collected monthly using gill nets, shrimp nets and fixed trap nets from April 2016-March 2017. Diet composition and feeding strategy were analyzed by IRI (Index of Relative Importance) and modification of the graphical Costello method, respectively. Nine species of Gobiidae were captured during the study period, namely Acentrogobius caninus (with total body length range 46-115 mm), Acentrogobius cyanomos (49-108 mm), Boleophthalmus boddarti (95-189 mm), Glossogobius aureus (70-210 mm), Oxyurichthys tentacularis (88-130 mm) , Parapocryptes serperaster (112-198 mm), Paratrypauchen microcephalus (100-150 mm), Pseudapocryptes elongatus (88-190 mm), and Taenioides cirratus (160 mm). According to the diet analysis, A. caninus, A. cyanomos , and G. aureus were grouped into crustacivore, while the B. boddarti , P. serperaster , P. microcephalus , and P. elongatus were categorized as phytobenthic feeder. A. caninus , G. aureus , and A. cyanomos exhibited a specialist feeding strategy with the main food was Metapenaeus sp., Metapenaeus sp. and Acetes sp., respectively. B. boddarti , P. serperaster , P. microcephalus , P. elongates displayed a generalized feeding strategy. This research showed that Gobiid fishes occupy different trophic levels and play an important ecological role in Pabean Bay.

Gamma-diversity partitioning of gobiid fishes (Teleostei: Gobiidae) ensemble along of Eastern Tropical Pacific: Biological inventory, latitudinal variation and species turnover

Gobies are the most diverse marine fish family. Here, we analysed the gamma-diversity (γ-diversity) partitioning of gobiid fishes to evaluate the additive and multiplicative components of α and β-diversity, species replacement and species loss and gain, at four spatial scales: sample units, ecoregions, provinces and realms. The richness of gobies from the realm Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP) is represented by 87 species. Along latitudinal and longitudinal gradients, we found that the γ-diversity is explained by the β-diversity at both spatial scales, ecoregions and provinces. At the ecoregion scale, species are diverse in the north (Cortezian ecoregion) and south (Panama Bight ecoregion) and between insular and coastal ecoregions. At the province scale, we found that the species turnover between the warm temperate Northeast Pacific (WTNP), Tropical East Pacific (TEaP) and the Galapagos Islands (Gala) was high, and the species nestedness was low. At the ecoregion scale, historical factors, and phylogenetic factors have influenced the hotspots of gobiid fish biodiversity, particularly in the Cortezian, Panama Bight and Cocos Island ecoregions, where species turnover is high across both latitudinal and longitudinal gradients. At the provincial level, we found that the contributions of the β-diversity from north to south, in the WTNP, TEaP and Gala were high, as result of the high number of unique species. Species turnover was also high at this scale, with a low contribution from species nestedness that was probably due to the low species/gene flow within the provinces. These results highlight the importance and successful inclusion of a cryptobenthic fish component in ecological and biogeographical studies.

Spatiotemporal and gender-specific parasitism in two species of gobiid fish.

Parasitism is considered a major selective force in natural host populations. Infections can decrease host condition and vigour, and potentially influence, for example, host population dynamics and behavior such as mate choice. We studied parasite infections of two common marine fish species, the sand goby (Pomatoschistus minutus) and the common goby (Pomatoschistus microps), in the brackish water Northern Baltic Sea. We were particularly interested in the occurrence of parasite taxa located in central sensory organs, such as eyes, potentially affecting fish behavior and mate choice. We found that both fish species harbored parasite communities dominated by taxa transmitted to fish through aquatic invertebrates. Infections also showed significant spatiotemporal variation. Trematodes in the eyes were very few in some locations, but infection levels were higher among females than males, suggesting differences in exposure or resistance between the sexes. To test between these hypotheses, we experimentally exposed male and female sand gobies to infection with the eye fluke Diplostomum pseudospathaceum. These trials showed that the fish became readily infected and females had higher parasite numbers, supporting higher susceptibility of females. Eye fluke infections also caused high cataract intensities among the fish in the wild. Our results demonstrate the potential of these parasites to influence host condition and visual abilities, which may have significant implications for survival and mate choice in goby populations.

Multi-male group and bidirectional sex change in the gobiid fish, Trimma caudomaculatum

The gobiid fish, Trimma caudomaculatum, lives in groups. We investigated group structure, mating system and bidirectional sex change of this species. Four groups examined contained more than two males. The males were significantly larger than the females. By the observations in aquarium, the males occupied a nest and the females visited the nest for spawning. While there was no specific pair bond, the males mated with multiple females. Hence, this species establishes multi-male groups. In the experiments, four larger females had changed sex to male among 25 females. The smallest male changed to female in the group of four males.

Proximate Composition of Four Gobiid Fishes from Ashtamudi Lake- Kerala, India

Proximate Composition of Four Gobiid Fishes from Ashtamudi Lake- Kerala, India

A commensal relationship between alpheid crustaceans and gobiid fish in the middle Miocene of southern Poland (Central Paratethys)

Remains of decapod crustaceans of the family Alpheidae Rafinesque, 1815 and bony fish of the family Gobiidae Bonaparte, 1832 co-occur at a number of localities in the Korytnica Basin (Holy Cross Mountains) and in a newly exposed section along a stream near Niskowa (Outer Carpathians), both in southern Poland. These remains (alpheid major right-sided cheliped tips and gobiid otoliths) are interpreted as documenting a commensal partnership that existed in the shallowest zones of the middle Miocene Fore-Carpathian Basin in southern Poland under environmental conditions that must have been comparable to those of the present-day tropical/subtropical Indo-West Pacific and Caribbean.

Length-weight and length-length relationships of two gobiid fishes Eleotris fusca (Forster, 1801) and Odontamblyopus rubicundus (Hamilton, 1822) from the Payra River, southern Bangladesh

The present study provides the estimates of length-weight relationships (LWRs) and length-length relationships (LLRs) of two gobiid fishes Eleotris fusca and Odontamblyopus rubicundus from the Payra River, southern Bangladesh. Fish samples were collected from the set bagnet (mesh size <2 mm) fishers of the Payra River in July 2016. Allometric coefficient (b) values were 2.95 for E. fusca and 2.76 for O. rubicundus. Additionally, the LLRs were highly significant with r2 ≥ .955. While the estimate of the LWR for O. rubicundus includes a substantial larger sample size and thus provides a more reliable LWR than the one published so far, the LWR for E. fusca must be considered as tentative because the sample includes only juveniles for a fish that reaches a maximum standard length more than three times as much. Additional studies are needed to further improve our LWR knowledge base for these fish species.

New geographical record and morphological features of the Indo&amp;#8209;Pacific tropical sand goby, Favonigobius reichei (Bleeker, 1854) from Iranian coast of the Makran Sea (Teleostei, Gobiidae)

The Indo-Pacific tropical sand goby, Favonigobius reichei (Bleeker, 1854), is a gobiid fish native to estuarine and marine waters of the coasts of the Indian and the western Pacific Oceans. Four specimens of F. reichei were collected from Iranian coast of the Makran Sea during a fish survey in November 2015. The morphological features of these specimens are described and discussed. This is the first record of the species from Iranian waters and is an extension of its known range within the Indian Ocean.&nbsp

Complete mitochondrial genome and the phylogenetic position of the Mugilogobius myxodermus: an endemic freshwater gobiid fish in China

The Mugilogobius myxodermus is an endemic freshwater fish in china. Herein, we sequenced and assembled the first complete mitogenome of M. myxodermus. The total length of the mitogenome is 16,495 bp, containing 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNAs (rRNA), two non-coding regions (control region and origin of light-strand replication), and 22 transfer RNAs (tRNA). The overall base composition of M. myxodermus is 26.76% T, 28.97% C, 27.81% A, and 16.45% G, respectively. A phylogenetic tree showed that M. myxodermus clustered closest to M. abei. The complete mitogenome of M. myxodermus provides a resource for studies on biogeography and evolution of this gobiid fish.

Seeing the invisible: Chriolepis lepidota (Gobiidae), literally as never seen before

BackgroundFor the first time, almost half a century after its discovery and description, the poorly known endemic gobiid fish Chriolepis lepidota was seen alive at Malpelo Island.MethodsDuring a 12-day expedition on March 2017, 18 specimens of this species were observed and photographed at different depths by means of SCUBA diving.ResultsSpecies maximum size and habitat preference are herein documented.ConclusionsThis sighting represents the first record of the species in the wild. Also, this report increases our knowledge on the ecology and biology of an unknown species.

Basic Methods for the Study of Reproductive Ecology of Fish in Aquaria.

Captive-rearing observations are valuable for revealing aspects of fish behavior and ecology when continuous field investigations are impossible. Here, a series of basic techniques are described to enable observations of the reproductive behavior of a wild-caught gobiid fish, as a model, kept in an aquarium. The method focuses on three steps: collection, transport, and observations of reproductive ecology of a substrate spawner. Essential aspects of live fish collection and transport are (1) preventing injury to the fish, and (2) careful acclimation to the aquarium. Preventing harm through injuries such as scratches or a sudden change of water pressure is imperative when collecting live fish, as any physical damage is likely to negatively affect the survival and later behavior of the fish. Careful acclimation to aquaria decreases the incidence death and mitigates the shock of transport. Observations during captive rearing include (1) the identification of individual fish and (2) monitoring spawned eggs without negative effects to the fish or eggs, thereby enabling detailed investigation of the study species' reproductive ecology. The subcutaneous injection of a visible implant elastomer (VIE) tag is a precise method for the subsequent identification of individual fish, and it can be used with a wide size range of fish, with minimal influence on their survival and behavior. If the study species is a substrate spawner that deposits adhesive eggs, an artificial nest site constructed from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe with the addition of a removable waterproof sheet will facilitate counting and monitoring the eggs, lessening the investigator's influence on the nest-holding and egg-guarding behavior of the fish. Although this basic method entails techniques that are seldom mentioned in detail in research articles, they are fundamental for undertaking experiments that require the captive rearing of a wild fish.

Species diversity and catch per unit effort (CPUE) of Gobiidae in Salmanshahr, coastal area of the southern Caspian Sea

The gobies are non-commercial fishes in the Iranian waters of the Caspian Sea for which population dynamics and stock status are poorly known. In this survey, we tried to define species diversity and catch per unit effort (CPUE) of Gobiidae by using beach seine nets in Salmanshahr, the southern Caspian Sea. From March 2011 to April 2012, 224 specimens representing 4 gobiid species, belonging to genus Ponticola and Neogobius, were caught. The deepwater Goby, Ponticola bathybius (Kessler, 1877), was the most abundant species with 92.8% frequency. The highest catch per unit effort of gobiid fishes was obtained in spring. The species diversity was highest in spring according to Shannon’s index.

Inconsistency between salinity preference and habitat salinity in euryhaline gobiid fishes in the Isazu River, northern Kyoto Prefecture

Adults of three amphidromous gobiid fishes, Tridentiger brevispinis, Rhinogobius similis, and Gymnogobius petschiliensis, are euryhaline and generally found in both freshwater (FW) and brackish water (BW) areas. The determining factors for their choice of habitat with different salinity have never been explored. In this study, a salinity-choice experiment was conducted using the above species captured in the FW region of the Isazu River, northern Kyoto Prefecture. For comparison, the fluvial goby Rhinogobius flumineus and BW-acclimated G. petschiliensis were also tested. We found that the three euryhaline species, including BW-acclimated G. petschiliensis, preferred BW to FW, whereas R. flumineus preferred FW. These results suggest that salinity preference did not determine habitat in these euryhaline gobiids, which were found in FW. Surveys were also conducted focusing on competitors and predators in their potential habitats. Thus, net sampling captured many other gobiid species, and an environmental DNA method detected Japanese temperate bass, a voracious predator, in the estuarine areas, suggesting that biotic factors are major determinants in the distribution of euryhaline species.

Gobioecetes biwaensis n. g., n. sp. (Monogenea: Dactylogyridae) from the gills of a freshwater gobiid fish, Rhinogobius sp. BW Takahashi & Okazaki, 2002, with a redescription of Parancyrocephaloides daicoci Yamaguti, 1938

A description is given of Gobioecetes biwaensis n. g., n. sp. (Monogenea: Dactylogyridae) on the gills of a freshwater gobiid fish, Rhinogobius sp. BW Takahashi & Okazaki, 2002 from Lake Biwa, Shiga Prefecture and Rhinogobius sp. from Sento Imperial Palace, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. This monogenean is most similar to Parancyrocephaloides rhinogobius Ling, 1973, proposed here as Gobioecetes rhinogobius n. comb., collected from the gills of Rhinogobius giurinus (Rutter, 1897) in Hupei Province, China, but can be differentiated from it in that ventral hamuli of G. biwaensis are larger than those of G. rhinogobius and in that in G. biwaensis, ventral hamuli are larger than dorsal ones, but in G. rhinogobius, ventral and dorsal hamuli are almost equal in size. The new genus is characterized by the absence of a bar supporting dorsal hamuli. Parancyrocephaloides daicoci Yamaguti, 1938, the type species of the genus, is redescribed based on newly collected specimens from a marine dactylopterid, Dactyloptena peterseni (Nyström, 1887) and the type specimens, revealing that it has a pair of vestigial bars supporting dorsal hamuli. The generic diagnoses of Gobioecetes n. g. and Parancyrocephaloides are given and systematic position of these genera in Dactylogyridae is discussed in this paper.

The mitochondrial genome sequences of the round goby and the sand goby reveal patterns of recent evolution in gobiid fish

BackgroundVertebrate mitochondrial genomes are optimized for fast replication and low cost of RNA expression. Accordingly, they are devoid of introns, are transcribed as polycistrons and contain very little intergenic sequences. Usually, vertebrate mitochondrial genomes measure between 16.5 and 17 kilobases (kb).ResultsDuring genome sequencing projects for two novel vertebrate models, the invasive round goby and the sand goby, we found that the sand goby genome is exceptionally small (16.4 kb), while the mitochondrial genome of the round goby is much larger than expected for a vertebrate. It is 19 kb in size and is thus one of the largest fish and even vertebrate mitochondrial genomes known to date. The expansion is attributable to a sequence insertion downstream of the putative transcriptional start site. This insertion carries traces of repeats from the control region, but is mostly novel. To get more information about this phenomenon, we gathered all available mitochondrial genomes of Gobiidae and of nine gobioid species, performed phylogenetic analyses, analysed gene arrangements, and compared gobiid mitochondrial genome sizes, ecological information and other species characteristics with respect to the mitochondrial phylogeny. This allowed us amongst others to identify a unique arrangement of tRNAs among Ponto-Caspian gobies.ConclusionsOur results indicate that the round goby mitochondrial genome may contain novel features. Since mitochondrial genome organisation is tightly linked to energy metabolism, these features may be linked to its invasion success. Also, the unique tRNA arrangement among Ponto-Caspian gobies may be helpful in studying the evolution of this highly adaptive and invasive species group. Finally, we find that the phylogeny of gobiids can be further refined by the use of longer stretches of linked DNA sequence.

本州・四国・九州の河口干潟に生息するハゼ類

本州・四国・九州の河口干潟に生息するハゼ類

Monogamous mating system and sexuality in the gobiid fish, Trimma marinae (Actinopterygii: Gobiidae)

The mating system and sexuality of the gobiid fish Trimma marinae were investigated in aquaria and by gonadal histological examination. The male to female sex ratio in the study aggregation was female biased (14:27), and females were larger than males. T. marinae were monogamous because they established continuous pairs and spawned repeatedly with the same individuals. Observations of aggressive behavior suggested that the monogamous mating system resulted from female mate guarding. We also performed a rearing experiment to test whether sex change occurs in this species. None of the males or females reared separately in aquaria for 63 days changed sex. Additionally, gonadal histology revealed that mature fish had unisexual gonads (testis or ovary). These results strongly suggest that T. marinae is gonochoristic. However, immature fish had a bisexual gonadal structure, indicating juvenile hermaphroditism.

Gobiid fishes of the coastal zone of the Northeastern Aegean Sea

In this study gobiid fish species were investigated at 31 stations from the northeastern Aegean Sea. Different habitat types between 0 and 50 m depth were studied by scuba diving with newly modified underwater visual census with ranked prevalence using time-transect. Thirty-three species were determined as belonging to family Gobiidae. Distribution, abundance, and some ecological properties of the species were examined. Considering this, four of the observed species determined as very common, seven as common, ten as locally common, six as rare, and six as very rare in the area. Pseudaphya ferreri, Gammogobius steinitzi, and Corcyrogobius liechtensteini were determined for the first time for the area. Detailed morphological characters of some species are also given.

Growth and body condition variation of the giant mudskipper Periophthalmodon schlosseri in dry and wet seasons

This study provides information on the growth and body condition variation of the giant mudskipper Periophthalmodon schlosseri between gender and fish size during dry and wet seasons. A total of 367 fish specimens was collected along mudflat and mangrove forest in Tran De from May 2014 to April 2015. The sex ratio of this fish was nearly 1:1. This species showed isometric growth as its slope value was close to the standard threshold (e.g., 3), and its length-weight relationship was similar in both dry and wet seasons. Although the condition factor of this mudskipper varied with seasonal change and fish size, it was similar in males and females and close to well-being value (e.g., 1). These results indicated that this fish lives well and can become a potential fish for aquaculture in this area, and provides useful information for our knowledge to other gobiid fishes.