Thorogobius Ephippiatus Research Articles

New and interesting records of marine fishes (Actinopterygii) from the Maltese Islands (central Mediterranean)

The occurrence of three bony ray-finned fishes, Thorogobius ephippiatus (Lowe, 1839), Chlopsis bicolor Rafinesque, 1810, and Grammonus ater (Risso, 1810) is reported for the first time in the scientific literature from Maltese coastal waters. The leopard-spotted goby, T. ephippiatus, was mostly recorded within the 8–32 m depth range on soft sediment and rocky bottoms within caves, but one individual was recorded on a rocky bottom with a thin layer of silt at a depth of 117 m where no cave was present. The bicolour eel, C. bicolor, was recorded within the 318–518 m depth range on rocky bottoms covered with a thin layer of muddy-detritic sediment; and the cusk-eel G. ater was recorded at a depth of 10 m within a cave. Notes on these three species as well as on another bony fish, the Azores rockling, Gaidropsarus granti (Regan, 1903), including new information on their bathymetric range and habitat association, are presented.

Rarely Reported Cryptobenthic Fish in Marine Caves of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea

Data on the distribution and ecology of cryptobenthic fish of marine caves in the Mediterranean Sea are extremely scarce but necessary for scientists and marine managers alike in order to understand these fish’s ecological role and assess their conservation status. Broadscale surveys by implementing underwater visual census and photographic sampling in marine caves of the northeastern Mediterranean Sea, within different expeditions during the last 5 years, brought to light new records of eight rarely reported cryptobenthic fish species. To a smaller extent, complementary citizen science data from diving professionals of Crete were used to fill distribution gaps. A total of 36 new records (66 individuals) from 18 marine caves and caverns of the Aegean and northeastern Levantine Seas were assembled, belonging to the gobies Corcyrogobius liechtensteini, Didogobius splechtnai, Gammogobius steinitzi, and Thorogobius ephippiatus, the blenny Microlipophrys nigriceps, the tripterygiid Tripterygion melanurum, the speleophilic bythitid Grammonus ater, and the gobiesocid Lepadogaster cf. lepadogaster. The above species have been rarely reported from the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, with D. splechtnai and G. steinitzi being recorded for the first and second time from Greek waters, respectively, while L. cf. lepadogaster constitutes the second record of a clingfish species in a marine cave of the Aegean Sea. Interesting behavioral and ecological habits were also noted for some species, based on in situ observations and photographic evidence. Our study contributes to filling gaps in the knowledge of cave fish diversity and demonstrates that cryptobenthic mobile species in understudied cryptic habitats are more common than previously thought in the Mediterranean Sea.

Northern extension of Lesueurigobius friesii (Malm, 1874) (Pisces: Gobiidae) distribution and the gobiid diversity decline along the Norwegian coast

Lesueurigobius friesii was collected in Eidsfjorden, Sognefjorden, Norway, extending its known distribution range north as the new northernmost locality of this species. Globally, the northernmost presence of gobies is along the coast of Norway. Their diversity along the Norwegian coast showed an evident latitude gradient of gobiid diversity with a clear decrease from south to north. The significant regression structural change was found at the 63/64° N latitude band followed by a 36.4% decrease in gobiid species diversity. The species traits of gobiids north of the regression breaking point and those restricted to the south of it were compared. The only significantly more frequent characteristic of species passing north of the regression breaking point is the large depth range that reach down to the shelf break. All species present north of the point, except Thorogobius ephippiatus (that barely passes it) belong to Oxudercinae (i.e. to Pomatoschistuslineage of that subfamily).

East and deep: Range extension and depth record for the leopard-spotted goby Thorogobius ephippiatus (Lowe, 1839) (Osteichthyes: Gobiidae)

Journal of Applied IchthyologyVolume 34, Issue 3 p. 681-683 SHORT COMMUNICATION East and deep: Range extension and depth record for the leopard-spotted goby Thorogobius ephippiatus (Lowe, 1839) (Osteichthyes: Gobiidae) N. Stern, Corresponding Author N. Stern nirstern@ocean.org.il orcid.org/0000-0002-4834-3091 National Institute of Oceanography, Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, Haifa, Israel Correspondence N. Stern, National Institute of Oceanography, Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, Haifa, Israel. Email: nirstern@ocean.org.ilSearch for more papers by this authorA. Weissman, A. Weissman Department of Marine Biology, Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, IsraelSearch for more papers by this authorY. Makovsky, Y. Makovsky Hatter Department of Marine Technologies, Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, IsraelSearch for more papers by this author N. Stern, Corresponding Author N. Stern nirstern@ocean.org.il orcid.org/0000-0002-4834-3091 National Institute of Oceanography, Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, Haifa, Israel Correspondence N. Stern, National Institute of Oceanography, Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, Haifa, Israel. Email: nirstern@ocean.org.ilSearch for more papers by this authorA. Weissman, A. Weissman Department of Marine Biology, Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, IsraelSearch for more papers by this authorY. Makovsky, Y. Makovsky Hatter Department of Marine Technologies, Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, IsraelSearch for more papers by this author First published: 28 January 2018 https://doi.org/10.1111/jai.13625Citations: 2Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article.Citing Literature Volume34, Issue3June 2018Pages 681-683 RelatedInformation

The confirmed and continuous northern distribution of Thorogobius ephippiatus (Teleostei: Gobiidae) with the scientific use of recreational fishing data

Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.

Fish assemblages of Mediterranean marine caves.

Fish assemblages associated with 14 marine caves and adjacent external rocky reefs were investigated at four Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) along the coasts of Italy. Within the caves sampling was carried out in different sub-habitats: walls, ceilings, bottoms and ends of caves. On the whole, 38 species were recorded inside the 14 caves investigated. Eighteen species were exclusively found inside the caves: they were mainly represented by speleophilic (i.e. species preferentially or exclusively inhabiting caves) gobids (e.g. Didogobius splechtnai) and nocturnal species (e.g. Conger conger). Forty-one species were censused outside, 20 of which were shared with cave habitats. Apogon imberbis was the most common fish found in all 14 caves investigated, followed by Thorogobius ephippiatus (recorded in 13 caves), and Diplodus vulgaris and Scorpaena notata (both censused in 12 caves). Distinct fish assemblages were found between external rocky reefs and the different cave sub-habitats. New data on the distribution of some speleophilic gobids were collected, showing the existence of a pool of species shared by marine caves on a large scale (i.e. hundreds of km). Considering the uniqueness of cave fishes (18 exclusive species and different assemblage structures), the inclusion of marine caves among the habitats routinely investigated for fish biodiversity monitoring could facilitate the achievement of more comprehensive inventories. Due to their contribution to local species diversity and the shelter they provide to species valuable for conservation, marine caves should be prioritized for their inclusion not only within future MPAs through the Mediterranean Sea, but also into larger management spatial planning.

Do Mediterranean fish assemblages associated with marine caves and rocky cliffs differ?

Fish assemblages associated with marine caves and rocky cliffs were investigated in the Salento Peninsula (SE Italy, Mediterranean Sea) by using visual census methods. Sampling was done at three sites, each of which included 4 habitat types: the external and the internal portions of caves, and shallow and deep rocky cliffs. 10 and 13 species were found exclusively inside cave habitats (e.g. Corcyrogobius lichtensteini, Thorogobius ephippiatus and Grammonus ater) or in rocky cliffs (e.g. Diplodus annularis, Sarpa salpa, Sparisoma cretense, Spondyliosoma cantharus), respectively. The four habitat types shared 10 species, and the external portions of the caves shared the most species (both with the internal cave portions and the external rocky cliffs). As a general rule, dissimilarity in the fish assemblage structure between habitats was far greater than dissimilarity between sites. Apogon imberbis (mostly associated with caves) and Chromis chromis (typifying rocky cliffs, mainly the deep ones) mostly contributed to dissimilarities between caves and rocky cliffs. Apogon imberbis (mostly associated with internal caves) and Coris julis (mainly associated to external cave portions) contributed strongly to dissimilarities between internal and external cave portions, while C. chromis, Symphodus mediterraneus and C. julis (associated with the deeper cliffs) and Thalassoma pavo (mostly present in shallow cliffs) differentiated deep and shallow cliffs. Diplodus vulgaris, Oblada melanura and Mullus surmuletus showed a marked increase in density during the cold season in the caves. These results show that fish assemblages associated with rocky reefs rich in marine caves (in terms of relative densities, species composition, species richness, exclusive species and presence of juveniles of some valuable species) may be affected by the peculiar ecological conditions within caves, which could provide additional resources for fishes (e.g. food availability, refuge against predators, sand patches within a rocky matrix) compared to rocky reefs without caves. These results suggest that stretches of rocky coasts rich in marine caves should be considered within management/conservation programs (e.g. when establishing Marine Protected Areas).

Occurrence and Activity of Mobile Macrofauna on a Sublittoral Reef: Diel and Seasonal Variation

Underwater television observations were made of mobile macrofauna inhabiting two parts of a sublittoral reef on the west coast of Scotland for 48 h periods in spring, summer, autumn and winter. Continuous occurrence profiles (mean hourly frequency of occurrence, %) were detailed for 12 species of fish (Chirolophis ascanii, Conger conger, Ctenolabrus rupestris, Lepadogaster candollei, Myoxocephalus scorpius, Pholis gunnellus, Pollachius pollachius, Raniceps raninus, Phrynorhombus regius, Zeugopterus punctatus, Thorogobius ephippiatus and Trisopterus minutus), ten crustacean species (Cancer pagurus, Carcinus maenas, Galathea strigosa, Homarus gammarus, Inachus spp., Munida rugosa, Necora puber, Brachyuran sp., Caridean sp. and Pagurid sp.) and four echinoderm species (Antedon bifida, Asterias rubens, Hemicia oculata and Solaster endeca). Rhythmic patterns of diel activity and/or occurrence were identified for several species. Chirolophis ascanii, Ctenolabrus rupestris, L. candollei, Myoxocephalus scorpius, Pholis gunnellus, Pollachius pollachius, Thorogobius ephippiatus, Trisopterus minutus and Munida rugosa were predominantly diurnal, but Ctenolabrus rupestris, Myoxocephalus scorpius and Trisopterus minutus also showed some evidence of crepuscular activity. Raniceps raninus activity was predominantly nocturnal but became continuous in summer. In other species (the topknots Phrynorhombus regius and Z. punctatus and the crustaceans Cancer pagurus and Homarus gammarus) identifiable occurrence patterns changed with season or site. The greatest number of fish species occurred in winter with Myoxocephalus scorpius, Pollachius pollachius and topknots (Phrynorhombus regius and Z. punctatus) showing greater occurrence/activity during spring and winter. Co-occurrence analysis was used to identify species interactions or avoidances.

Use of space by Gobius cruentatus and Thorogobius ephippiatus (Teleostei: Gobiidae) in south-west Ireland

The mechanisms of spatial organisation exhibited by two co-existing species of Gobiidae, Gobius cruentatus Gmelin, 1789 and Thorogobius ephippiatus (Lowe, 1839) were examined to determine the nature of, and the factors contributing to, these mechanisms. This study was carried out in Lought Hyne, south-west Ireland, during 1990. Both species were found to occupy territories exclusive to conspecifics, whilst G. cruentatus was also found to maintain a territory exclusive to T. ephippiatus. This and other interspecific differences in the spatial patterns exhibited by these species are suggested to be related to size-based dominance abilities and their differential requirements of space-related resources.

Shelter utilization by Gobius cruentatus and Thorogobius ephippiatus (Teleostei: Gobiidae)

Parameters of shelters utilized by Gobiuscruentatus and Thorogobius ephippiatus were measured, in situ, using SCUBA. Both species exhibited non‐random use of shelters, with T. ephippiatus, the smaller of the two species, utilizing significantly larger shelters than G. cruentatus. Interspecific size differences and competitive exclusion are not considered to be of major importance in the observed differential utilization of shelters. The size of shelters utilized by both species is suggested to be influenced by current velocities.

Abundance and spatial overlap of gobies (Gobiidae) in Lough Hyne, Ireland

The densities of gobies (Gobiidae, Pisces) were counted by scuba divers on 13 sublittoral transects in Lough Hyne, southwest Ireland. The characters used for underwater identification are described. Densities ranged up to 6.5 m−2 for Pomatoschistus pictus (Malm), 4.0 m−2 for Gobiusculus flavescens (Fabricius), 0.9 m−2 for Gobius niger L., 0.3 m−2 for G. cruentatus Gmelin, and 0.3 m−2 for Thorogobius ephippiatus (Lowe), while G. paganellus L., G. couchi Miller & El-Tawil and Lesueurigobius friesii Malm were rare on the transects. Gobius cruentatus and T. ephippiatus were largely confined to holes under rocks, while P. pictus and G. niger were most abundant on more open terrain. G. flavescens was hyperbenthic and largely confined to water less than 5 m depth. Significantly less P. pictus, G. flavescens and G. niger were recorded at night, and ‘sleeping’G. flavescens were observed. A working model of the spatial overlap of gobies in Lough Hyne is presented, and the possible roles of diet, predation and temporal activity patterns in interspecific competition are discussed.

Isozyme criteria in the testing of phyletic relationships between species of Gobius and related eastern Atlantic‐Mediterranean genera (Teleostei: Gobüdae)

Horizontal starch gel electrophoresis was employed to investigate allozyme variation at 19 isozyme loci, in nine closely‐related Atlantic‐Mediterranean gobiid fish species, to assess genetic relationships, and to compare this with a phyletic hypothesis based on morphological apo‐morphies. The species examined were Gobius niger, G. auratus, G. cruentatus, G. paganellus, Mauligobius maderensis, Zosterisessor ophiocephalus, Thorogobius ephippiatus, Padogobius martensii and P. nigricans. Various phenetic and cladistic analyses were performed on isozyme and morphological data. The phenetic and cladistic results from morphological data, and the cladistic results from isozyme data, were largely comparable, with P. martensü and P. nigricans forming a sister group to all the other taxa, species of Cobius forming a crown group within the latter, and stem lines formed by Mauligobius, Zosterisessor and Thorogobius, respectively. The isozymic estimates of genetic distance differed from these chiefly in the relative positions of Zosterisessor and G. auratus, which appear less similar to other species of Gohius. G. auratus shows many alleles which are unique within the genus Gobius; possible explanations for this are put forward. The position of nigricans as congeneric with Padogobius martensü is confirmed by both phenetic and cladistic analyses of isozyme data.

Thorogobius ephippiatus(Pisces) found on the west coast of Sweden

Abstract This is the first record of the species in Sweden. It was observed to be fairly common between 12 and 27 m depth in and off Gullmarfjorden. The fishes seemed to venture further off from their hiding-places during the night than during the day.

A new species of Gobius (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from the western English Channel, with a key to related species in the British and Irish fauna

A gobiid fish known for some time from the English Channel, and found also at Madeira, is described as Gobius gasteveni sp. nov., and its affinities believed to be with species grouped about G. auratus Risso. Changes in abundance and the possibility of recovery are discussed for this offshore species in the Channel, but little is otherwise known concerning its biology. A key to the British and Irish species of Gobius L. and Thorogobius Miller summarizes those now recognized around the British Isles as the following (listed in chronological order of genus and species description): Gobius nigerL., 1758; G. paganellusL., 1758; G. cruentatus Gmelin, 1789; G. cobitis Pallas, 1814; G. couchi Miller & El‐Tawil, 1974; G. gasteveni sp. nov., and Thorogobius ephippiatus (Lowe, 1839).

A multidisciplinary approach to a new species of Gobius (Teleostei: Gobiidea) from southern Cornwall

The Mediterranean‐Atlantic genus Gobius L. (type G. niger L.) is redefined with listing and comparison of the 14 species currently assigned to it. A G. auratus complex of species is discussed with special reference to the real identity of the former species originated by Risso. Features of a further new species, Gobius couchi, from Helford, Cornwall, and Lough Ine, Co. Cork, are compared with those of its nearest relatives, G. auratus Risso, 1810, G. luteus Kolombatovic, 1891, and another new offshore form from the English Channel.A systematic description of G. couchi is given, including details of head lateral‐line canals and sensory papillae, and also of the karyotype (Appendix). A summary of biology covers geographical distribution, habitat and associated intertidal fishes, diet, parasites, reproduction, age‐composition, and size. The electrophoretic properties of selected functional proteins (haemoglobins, muscle‐myogens, and lactate‐dehydrogenase isozymes) are described and contrasted with those in other available neighbouring species (G. paganellus, G. niger, and Thorogobius ephippiatus). Alternative terminology for LDH patterns is discussed, and the role of protein studies considered for gobioid classification.The specific status of G. couchi relative to the Mediterranean G. auratus is reviewed, and meristic divergence between the two compared with that found among widely separated populations of G. niger which exhibit less geographical variation in these criteria. Mechanisms for allopatric speciation are discussed, and it is concluded that ancestral populations of the two forms became parted possibly at the time of the Roman regression (corresponding to the Mindel glaciation) when the Mediterranean may have been closed‐off from the Atlantic. Rates of evolution shown by European gobiids are considered in the light of Pleistocene and postglacial opportunities for reproductive isolation.

A western Scottish population of the leopard‐spotted goby, Thorogobius ephippiatus (Lowe) (Teleostei: Gobioidea)

A population of the sublittoral leopard‐spotted goby, Thorogobius ephippiatus (Lowe, 1839), is recorded from Upper Loch Torridon, Scotland, and the more northerly occurrence of this Mediterranean‐Atlantic species along western Scottish coasts confirmed. Modified methods of capture are described. Distinctive systematic features of this population, which tends to have low sensory papilla and pectoral ray values, are examined with reference to other T. ephippiatus and the related T. macrolepis (Kolombatovic, 1891). The time of onset and reasons for this local differentiation are discussed.