Cabillus Smith, 1959

Kovačić, Marcelo & Bogorodsky, Sergey V., 2013, Two new species of Cabillus (Perciformes: Gobiidae) and the first record of Cabillus macrophthalmus from the Western Indian Ocean, Zootaxa 3717 (2), pp. 179-194 : 181

Cabillus Smith, 1959

Cabillus Smith, 1959: 207 (type species, Cabillus lacertops Smith by original designation and monotypy).

Diagnosis. The diagnosis by Randall et al. (2007) is amended to fit meristic ranges of Cabillus nigromarginatus sp. nov. for the second dorsal fin and the longitudinal scale series, and to include modified scales at the caudal-fin base of C. pexus , C. nigromarginatus , and C. caudimacula : dorsal-fin rays VI + I, 8–10; anal-fin rays I, 8–9; dorsal pterygiophore formula 3–22110 (fig. 1A of Birdsong et al. 1988); pectoral-fin rays 14–20, no rays free from membrane; pelvic-fin rays I,5, joined to form a disc; pelvic frenum present; branched caudal rays 13–16; scales in longitudinal series 23–29; scales ctenoid posteriorly, cycloid anteriorly; no scales on head or prepectoral area; normally developed caudal peduncle scales in all but two species that have modified scales with enlarged ctenii ventrally and dorsally at the caudal-fin base; branchiostegal rays 5; vertebrae 10 + 16; body depth 4.5–7.95 in SL; head width at preopercular margin greater than head depth; eyes large; snout short, its length less than eye diameter; interorbital space very narrow; no spines on preopercle; no median dermal crest on nape; no barbels ventrally on head; cephalic pore system with or without the posterior oculoscapular canal and associated pores ρ1 and ρ2; no fleshy flaps on cheek; sensory papillae in four rows on cheek, one row ventral to eye, two horizontal rows in middle of suborbital space, and the ventralmost row dorsal and parallel to upper jaw, then extending posteriorly from terminus of jaw; gill opening terminating at level of lower edge of pectoral-fin base; first gill slit open; mouth usually terminal (may be slightly inferior or with lower jaw slightly projecting), and oblique; an outer row of slender incurved canine teeth in jaws (canine teeth only anteriorly in lower jaw), and an inner band of small inward-projecting teeth that narrows posteriorly; no teeth on palate; tongue bilobed; anterior nostril tubular; posterior nostril pore-like; no dorsal spines or rays prolonged; no spines stiff and sharp-tipped; caudal fin rounded, varying from slightly shorter to slightly longer than head.