Gnatholepis gymnocara Randall and Greenfield, 2001

Larson, Helen K. & Buckle, Duncan J., 2012, A revision of the goby genus Gnatholepis Bleeker (Teleostei, Gobiidae, Gobionellinae), with description of a new species, Zootaxa 3529 (1), pp. 1-69 : 39

Gnatholepis gymnocara Randall and Greenfield, 2001

( Table 5)

? Gobius pauper de Vis, 1884: 687 (Moreton Bay) .

Gnatholepis gymnocara Randall and Greenfield, 2001: 14 ( Supply Bay , 22°12.24'S, 150°28.53"E, Townshend I., Queensland).

Diagnosis. (modified from Randall & Greenfield 2001) A small Gnatholepis (up to 35.4 mm SL) lacking scales on side of cheek, opercle and predorsal midline, few cycloid scales present on pectoral fin base and on breast; no distinct flap on end of lower lip (low fold may be present); no distinct canine or enlarged teeth; second dorsal fin rays I,11; anal fin rays I,11–12 (usually I,12); pectoral rays 15–19 (usually 17); lateral scales 26–28, ctenoid; predorsal scales absent from nape midline, scales on side of head reaching to nearly behind eyes; body pale with dusky speckling and mid-lateral row of six dusky blotches and horizontal row of darker spots and short streaks, an irregular cross-shaped dark mark on cheek extending down from eye, pupil-sized brown spot just above mid-point of caudal fin base, males with small black spot on rear part of first dorsal fin.

Material Examined. AMS I.34318-032, paratypes of Gnatholepis gymnocara , 32(17–33), Supply Bay, Townshend Island , Queensland, S. Reader and party, 16 September 1998 .

Remarks. In their description of G. gymnocara, Randall and Greenfield included two paratype specimens from the Northern Territory (AMS I.23930-011). As no other specimens of G. gymnocara have so far been found in the Territory, these paratypes were examined and were found to be female G. argus (the larger specimen had a second dorsal fin count of I,11, but anal ray count of I,11, while the smaller specimen had I,10 second dorsal rays and I,11 anal rays; both have scaleless pectoral fin bases and typical female G. argus colouring).

The species described as Gobius pauper De Vis, 1884 , from Moreton Bay, Queensland, has no known type specimen. It is possible that it may have been deposited in the Queensland Museum, but it is not there now and its whereabouts are unknown. From De Vis’ original description, it appears to be a species of Gnatholepis , as noted by Hoese and Larson (2006). De Vis described his species as being without canines, which implies G. gymnocara (and not G. cauerensis ), but we are reluctant to synonymise G. pauper with G. gymnocara or any other species without more certainty as to the identity of the type specimen(s).