Journal of the
Ocean Science Foundation

An open-access free online peer-reviewed Marine Biology Journal, since 2008.

published by the Ocean Science Foundation

 
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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Vanderhorstia vandersteene, a new species of shrimpgoby (Pisces: Gobiidae) from Papua New Guinea

Gerald R. Allen, Mark V. Erdmann & William M. Brooks

Abstract

A new species of gobiid fish, Vanderhorstia vandersteene, is described from the East Cape region of Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea on the basis of five specimens 17.5-32.2 mm SL. Diagnostic features include dorsal-fin elements VI-I,10-12; the fourth dorsal-fin spine filamentous, reaching the base of about the fifth to seventh segmented dorsal-fin ray when adpressed; anal-fin rays I,11; pectoral-fin rays 16-18; lateral scales 35-37; transverse scales 10; body scales mostly ctenoid, except cycloid scales anterior to the level of about the second-dorsal-fin origin, as well as on the pectoral-fin base, prepelvic region, and the lower side between the pectoral-fins and pelvic fins; scales absent on the head, including medially and anteriorly on the predorsal region; the caudal fin lanceolate with an elongate, median filament; color in life light neon blue with a wavy yellow-orange stripe from the upper operculum to the upper caudal-fin base, prominent yellow-orange bars, bands, and spots on the head and upper sides, a pair of yellow stripes on the second dorsal fin, and yellow streaks and bands on the caudal fin. We include a key to the Vanderhorstia species with low lateral-scale counts (less than 45).

 
 
 

CITATION:

Allen, G.R., Erdmann, M.V. & Brooks, W.M. (2020) Vanderhorstia vandersteene, a new species of shrimpgoby (Pisces: Gobiidae) from Papua New Guinea. Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation, 35, 65-75.

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3959464

publication date: 25 July 2020