Tuesday, October 3, 2017

[Ichthyology • 2017] Tomiyamichthys reticulatus • A New Species of Shrimpgoby (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from Fiji


Tomiyamichthys reticulatus Greenfield, 2017


Abstract 
A new species of shrimpgoby, Tomiyamichthys reticulatus, is described on the basis of a single specimen taken at 16 m from a fine, silty-sand bottom at Rabi Island, Fiji. It differs from the other 12 valid described species in the genus on the basis of high fin-ray counts a combination of 12 dorsal and 13 anal-fin soft rays and 21 pectoral-fin rays, as well as a lanceolate caudal fin. 

Key words: taxonomy, systematics, ichthyology, coral-reef fishes, gobies, Rabi Island, Pacific Ocean. 

Figure 1. Tomiyamichthys reticulatus, fresh holotype, CAS243882, 54.6 mm SL, male, Rabi Island, Fiji (D.W. Greenfield). 

Tomiyamichthys reticulatus, n. sp.
Reticulated Shrimpgoby

Diagnosis: Dorsal-fin elements VI+I,12; anal-fin rays I,13; pectoral-fin rays 21; both ctenoid and cycloid scales present; caudal fin lanceolate and longer than head, 2.2 in SL; first 5 dorsal-fin spines filamentous, 2nd longest; gill opening extending forward to middle of operculum, without a free fold across isthmus; a mid-lateral row of 6 orange-brown spots, first at pectoral-fin base, last at caudal-fin base; first dorsal fin with many oblong orange spots encircled with white lines; second dorsal fin with wavy white lines running its length with orange in between; pelvic fins orange, crossed by several narrow curved white lines.

Etymology: The specific epithet, reticulatus (Latin: netlike), referring to the many oblong orange spots encircled with white lines forming a reticulated pattern on the first dorsal fin, treated as a masculine adjective.

Distribution: Currently known only from the type location on Rabi Island, Fiji, although presumably wider spread in the Pacific Ocean.


David W. Greenfield. 2017. Tomiyamichthys reticulatus, A New Species of Shrimpgoby from Fiji (Teleostei: Gobiidae). Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation. 28; 47–51. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.996850