Abstract
Navigobius kaguya is described on the basis of two specimens from the Ryukyu Islands, Japan, and Luzon, Philippines. It differs from other described species of the genus in live coloration, and in having: second dorsal-fin rays I,16; anal-fin rays I,16; pectoral-fin rays 21–22; gill rakers 5–6 + 17; and first dorsal fin weakly to moderately incised between spines, taller than second dorsal. It closely resembles an undescribed species from Bali and the Maldives, but differs in lacking an orange-red mid-lateral stripe. The possible placement of Navigobius khanhoa in Oxymetapon is discussed.
Keywords: Pisces, ichthyology, taxonomy, Japan, Philippines
Navigobius kaguya is described on the basis of two specimens from the Ryukyu Islands, Japan, and Luzon, Philippines. It differs from other described species of the genus in live coloration, and in having: second dorsal-fin rays I,16; anal-fin rays I,16; pectoral-fin rays 21–22; gill rakers 5–6 + 17; and first dorsal fin weakly to moderately incised between spines, taller than second dorsal. It closely resembles an undescribed species from Bali and the Maldives, but differs in lacking an orange-red mid-lateral stripe. The possible placement of Navigobius khanhoa in Oxymetapon is discussed.
Keywords: Pisces, ichthyology, taxonomy, Japan, Philippines
 |
| FIGURE 3. Navigobius kaguya, aquarium specimen (not retained, sex not determined) from Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, Japan. Photo by Y.K. Tea. FIGURE 4. Navigobius kaguya, KPM-NR 32379B, underwater photo in 36 m, Nakanose, between Ie-jima Island and Okinawa-jima Island, Ryukyu Islands, Japan, 22 June 1998. Photo by H. Kodato. |
Navigobius kaguya new species
New standard Japanese name: Kaguyahime-haze
English common name: Kaguya’s dartfish
Diagnosis. Navigobius kaguya differs from congeners in the following: second dorsal-fin rays I,16; anal-fin rays I,16; pectoral-fin rays 21–22; gill rakers 5–6 + 17; first dorsal fin weakly to moderately incised between spines, taller than second dorsal; and live coloration (first dorsal fin yellow-grey to yellow, basally purple with 1-4 rows of yellow spots; sides of body without orange-red lateral stripe).
Etymology. Named after the Moon Princess Kaguya from the Japanese folk tale Taketori Monogatari (The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter). It alludes to the small spots on the first dorsal fin, which resemble the graphics used in moon phase charts, and acknowledges that the species occurs in Japanese waters. The name was selected by school students at education workshops associated with University of Sydney performances of 2071: A Performance about Climate Change.
Habitat and distribution. Navigobius kaguya is known only from Sagami Bay and the Ryukyu Islands, Japan, and the west coast of Luzon, Philippines (Figure 7). It appears to occur singly or in small groups in silty areas, with sand or mud-bottom or low-relief reef at depths ranging from 30–60 m.
Anthony C. Gill, Yi-Kai Tea and Hiroshi Senou. 2017. Navigobius kaguya, New Species of Ptereleotrine Goby (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from the West Pacific. Zootaxa. 4347(2); 371–380. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4347.2.11