RESEARCH ARTICLE
Descriptions of two new gobies
(Gobiidae: Acentrogobius)
from Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea
Gerald R. Allen
Abstract
Two new
species belonging to the gobiid genus Acentrogobius
are described from mud-bottom habitat in the vicinity
of Alotau, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea. Acentrogobius
vanderloosi is described on the basis of three
specimens, 30.4-47.7 mm SL. Diagnostic features
include the combination of 10 soft dorsal and anal-fin
rays, first two dorsal spines with elongate filaments,
pectoral-fin rays 20, scales covering the entire cheek
and upper portion of the opercle, and a unique colour
pattern that includes a pair of yellow cheek stripes,
numerous orange spots on the body, and a mid-lateral
row of five, horizontally-elongate dark brown blotches,
which are not enclosed within parallel dark stripes.
Acentrogobius violarisi is described from three
specimens, 14.9-30.1 mm SL. It differs from congeners
on the basis of its combination of 11 soft dorsal
and anal-fin rays, filamentous first dorsal spine,
12-13 predorsal scales, and a colour pattern
that includes a mid-lateral row of four, short narrow
black bars and spot (at caudal-fin base) enclosed
within a pair of brown stripes extending from the
pectoral fin to the caudal-fin base, a pair of neon
blue cheek stripes, alternating blue and brown bands
on the dorsal fins, and orange spots on the upper
half of the caudal fin. Both new species were collected/observed
at depths from 15-18 m, which is well below the
normal depth zone for most members of the genus.
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CITATION:
Allen, G.R. (2015) Descriptions
of two new gobies (Gobiidae: Acentrogobius)
from Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea. Journal
of the Ocean Science Foundation, 14, 1-13.
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1037608
publication date: 1 March
2015
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