Fusigobius melacron ( Randall, 2001 )

Chen, I-Shiung, Chen, Kuan-Te, Yang, Yen-Cheng, Harefa, Tonisman, Chou, Li-Chin, Shen, Kang-Ning & Chang, Chih-Wei, 2024, Taxonomic review and molecular phylogenetics of the reef gobiid genus Fusigobius from Taiwan with comments on a new species from South China Sea, Zootaxa 5550 (1), pp. 17-31 : 22-23

Fusigobius melacron ( Randall, 2001)

( Fig. 1D ; Table 2)

Coryphopterus melacron Randall 2001: 218 (Ne. coast at Tulamben, off wreck of U.S. S. "Liberty", Bali, Indonesia); Randall 2005: 525.

Fusigobius melacron : Akihito et al. in Nakabo 2002: 1247; Hoese & Larson 2006: 1652; Hiroshi et al. 2007: 67.

Materials examined. NTOUP 2010-09 - 471 , 27.5 mm SL, Nanwan, Hengchun township, Pingtung county, 20 m, coll. M-J Chiang et al., May 27, 2010 ; NTOUP 2010-09472 , 33.3 mm SL, Nanwan, Hengchun township, Pingtung county, 20 m, coll. M-J Chiang et al., May 27, 2010 .

Diagnosis. D1 VI; D2 I/9; A I/8; P 19-21; LR 26-2 7; SD1P 4. Upper lip prominent. Second and 3 rd spinous rays longer in D1. Pelvic fin without frenum, with low connecting membrane. Body scattered yellowish brown to grayish orange-red spots. First dorsal fin grayish-black on upper half.

Distribution. Widely distributed in the Indo-West Pacific region. A newly recorded species for all Taiwanese waters. In Taiwan, it can only be collected from the southern region (Kenting National Park). I-S Chen observed this species in Taiping Island, South China Sea, in 1995.

Remarks. I-S Chen first found and recorded this unusual, rare species during a SCUBA diving expedition in Maumere, Flores Island, Indonesia in 1993. He also found the species in Taiping Island, South China Sea at a depth of 20–35 m during a fish fauna survey expedition in 1995. However, first valid evidence of this species, confirmed by real specimens, was brought to light in southern Taiwan as part of the author’s collection in 2010.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Specimen photos of nominal species of Fusigobius from Taiwan. (A) Fusigobius duospilus, NTOUP 2012-06- 524, 28.8 mm SL, Huapingyan, Liouciou Township, Pingtung County, Taiwan. (B) Fusigobius humeralis, NTOUP 2012-06- 533, 29.2 mm SL, Huapingyan, Liouciou Township, Pingtung County, Taiwan. (C) Fusigobius inframaculatus, NTOUP 2012- 06-543, 45.9 mm SL, Longshiartong, Huapingyan, Liouciou Township, Pingtung County, Taiwan. (D) Fusigobius melacron, NTOUP 2010-09-472, 33.3 mm SL, Nanwan, Henchuen Township, Taiwan. (E) Fusigobius neophytus, NTOUP 2012-03-276, 34.8 mm SL, Northern Coast, Dongsha, Taiwan. (F) Fusigobius neophytus, NTOUP 2012-03-268, 19.0 mm SL, Northern Coast, Dongsha, Taiwan. (G) Fusigobius taipinensis, NTOUP 2022-07-201, holotype, 25.5 mm SL, Taiping Island, Nansha, South China Sea. (H) Fusigobius taipinensis, NTOUP 2012-06-555, paratype, 25.7 mm SL, Huapingyan, Liouciou Township, Pingtung County, Taiwan. (Bar = 1 mm).