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| Futuna's emperor | Akihito futuna
Keith, Marquet & Watson, 2008
[upper] A: Male, paratype MNHN 2006-0776; Futuna Island, Vanifao River; 15 Oct. 2004;
Keith, Marquet, Sasal, Labrousse coll. (picture by P. Keith).
[lower] Diagrammatic illustration of head in Akihito futuna with pores and sensory papillae. A: Dorsal view; B: Lateral view |
ABSTRACT
Akihito futuna, new species, is described on the basis of material collected from Futuna Island. It is distinguished from A. vanuatu in having less premaxillary teeth in males (4-7 v s 7-17) and tricuspid premaxillary teeth (4-7 vs 30-37) in females; more caniniform premaxillary teeth (2-4 vs 0-1) in females; lower scale counts in lateral scales (19-20 vs 24-32), in transverse forward series (5 vs 8-9), and in transverse back series in females (8-9 vs 9-14).
Ecology: Akihito futuna is found in swift clear streams with rocky bottom. The site where the specimens were found is situated at an altitude of 147 m. In vivo observations have shown that they often swim in open water and are not always on the bottom of the river. Feeding habits have not been studied in depth but the few specimens examined seemed to feed on aquatic insects and crustacean (Atyidae).
Distribution: Akihito futuna is currently known only from Futuna Island.
Etymology: The new species is named for Futuna Island and is defined as a noun in apposition
Keith, P., G. Marquet and R.E. Watson, 2008. Akihito futuna, A New Species of Freshwater Goby from the South Pacific (Gobioidei: Sicydiinae). Cybium. 31(4):471-476.
