Callogobius amikami Goren, Miroz & Baranes 1991

Delventhal, Naomi R., Mooi, Randall D., Bogorodsky, Sergey V. & Mal, Ahmad O., 2016, A review of the Callogobius (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from the Red Sea with the description of a new species, Zootaxa 4179 (2), pp. 225-243 : 232-233

Callogobius amikami Goren, Miroz & Baranes 1991

( Figure 3 )

Callogobius amikami Goren, Miroz & Baranes 1991: 300 (Eilat, Israel, Gulf of Aqaba , Red Sea; holotype TAU P-10321).— Goren & Dor 1994: 63; Randall 1995: 329; Golani & Bogorodsky 2010: 46.

Diagnosis. Callogobius amikami is distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: interorbital pores B’, D, E, F, G and H’ present; preopercular canal absent; temporal canal absent; dorsal fin VI + I,10; anal fin I,8; scales in lateral series about 27; scales ctenoid from the first spine of the second dorsal fin to the caudal-fin base; preopercular papillae row (Row 20) continuous with transverse opercular row (Row 21); body coloration with strongly contrasting wide dark bars and narrow horizontal lines.

Brief description. Moderately stout-bodied species with slightly elongate and round-tipped caudal fin> 40% SL in length. Scales large, cycloid anteriorly, ctenoid from first spine of second dorsal fin to caudal-fin base, scales in lateral series about 27. Dorsal-fin rays VI + I,10, anal-fin rays I,8, pectoral-fin rays 18; pelvic fins fully united with fifth ray equal to fourth (resulting in blunt-ended appearance), frenum weak. Anterior nostril slightly longer than posterior nostril. Head pores present with interorbital canal normally containing pores B’, D, E, F, G, and H’, preopercular and temporal canals absent. Preopercular papillae row (Row 20) continuous with transverse opercular row (Row 21), more than 10 transverse mandibular papillae rows (Row 16) on each side.

Body of adults pale grey with about nine narrow black stripes following scale rows, short broad black bar dorsally below posterior half of first dorsal fin, a slightly curved black bar below rear of second dorsal fin, and black bar at caudal-fin base. Head whitish with three dark bars radiating from eye, one oblique across side of snout anteriorly to chin, one across cheek and opercle, and one dorsoposteriorly across occiput. Broad irregular oblique black bar from origin of first dorsal fin to upper part of opercle. Two papillae rows on cheek below eye black. Both dorsal fins black, each with broad white dash anteriorly, oblique rows of white spots, and narrow white to hyaline border. Caudal fin with large central brown area crossed by rows of black spots, margin white and broadest dorsoposteriorly. Pectoral fin dark dorsally and basally, white ventrally. Presumed juveniles (see Remarks) white with four narrow black bars on body, one on nape, one dorsally extending into first dorsal fin, one posteriorly extending through anal fin and second dorsal, and one at caudal-fin base; bars in dorsal fins with orange spot; pelvic fin white; pectoral fin mostly white with broad black dorsal and posterior margin with orange submarginal band; caudal fin white with black bar in posterior third with orange bar within it.

Distribution and habitat. Confirmed only from the Red Sea. First reported by Goren et al. (1991) in the original description of a single specimen (TAU P-10321) from Eilat, Israel collected at 6 m among coral pieces and rocks away from the coral reef. A possible photographic record from Oman is discussed below.

Remarks. Callogobius amikami is most likely to be confused with C. dori . It differs in second dorsal- and anal-fin ray counts (D 2 I,10 and A I, 8 in the holotype of C. amikami vs. D 2 I,9 and A I, 7 in C. dori ), and in adult color pattern (distinct vertical bars present vs. absent).

Our measurements and lateral scale counts taken from the holotype ( Fig. 3 A) differ slightly from those of Goren et al. (1991), who measured the holotype at 28.4 mm SL and counted 24 scales in lateral series. Our shorter SL measurement is likely due to stiffening of the specimen in preservation; our higher lateral scale count can be attributed to uneven scale distribution and individual researcher technique. Goren et al. (1991) stated that the holotype is a male; we found the gender to be ambiguous.

A second specimen of C. amikami was photographed by J.E. Randall in 1993 at Coral World in Eilat ( Fig. 3 B). We were unable to determine if the specimen was eventually preserved and added to a collection.

Debelius (1993: 263) provided a photograph of a single live juvenile Callogobius taken in Muscat, Oman ( Western Indian Ocean ) that he identified as C. amikami , but no specimens were taken. The photographed individual displays sharply contrasting narrow bars, with the bars having bright orange central markings on the pectoral, first and second dorsal fins, and caudal fins. Randall (1995) followed Debelius (1993) in listing C. amikami as occurring in Oman . We consider this identification to be uncertain. The color pattern of C. amikami differs slightly from the photograph (although some differences would be expected from developmental change); the holotype of C. amikami has much wider bars and darker fins. The live photograph of the holotype in Goren et al. (1991) does indicate orange on the first dorsal fin, supporting the identification of the Oman specimen as C. amikami , however, the latter appears to have an anal fin ray count of I,7 (as opposed to I, 8 in the holotype C. amikami ).

The third author collected and photographed a 7.2 mm juvenile from Al Wajh bank, Saudi Arabia ( Fig. 3 C) that resembles the specimen in Debelius’s photograph. This individual was very secretive, hidden inside the base of dead coral in fringing seaward reefs at a depth of 3– 5 m. Microscopic examination revealed that the lateral scales are not yet fully developed on this specimen and second dorsal- and anal-fin ray counts are I,9 and I,7 respectively, lower than the counts on the holotype of C. amikami . Instead, these counts match those of C. dori , although no tiny juveniles of the latter are known. We are uncertain that this specimen represents C. amikami .

Representative Red Sea Material (2 specimens, 7.2 & 26.2 mm SL). Israel: TAU P-1032, holotype, sex uncertain, 26.2 mm SL . Saudi Arabia: SMF 35770 (KAU13-142), juvenile (tentative identification), 7.2 mm SL, Al Wajh bank, N25°35'52.86" E36°41' 01.80", seaward slope of unnamed island, sediment with coral patches, 3–5 m, coll. S.V. Bogorodsky & T.J. Alpermann, 12 June 2013 .

Figures

FIGURE 3. Callogobius amikami Goren, Miroz & Baranes: A. Preserved specimen, TAU P- 10321, holotype, sex uncertain, 26.2 mm SL, Eilat, Israel; B. Aquarium specimen in 1993, Coral World, Eilat, about 40 mm TL, collected by A. Miroz. C. Callogobius cf. amikami, live coloration, SMF 35770, juvenile, 7.2 mm SL, Al Wajh bank, Saudi Arabia. Photos by NRD (A), J. E. Randall (B) used with permission, SVB (C).