Bryaninops

Suzuki, Toshiyuki, Bogorodsky, Sergey V. & Randall, John E., 2012, Gobiid fishes of the genus Bryaninops from the Red Sea, with description of two new species and two new records, Zootaxa 3170, pp. 1-17 : 2

Key to the Red Sea Species of Bryaninops

1a. Gill opening short, extending to ventral edge of pectoral-fin base or slightly anterior; lower edge of preopercle slightly scalloped............................................................................................... 2

1b. Gill opening broad, extending forward at least to posterior margin of preopercle; lower edge of preopercle not scalloped.... 3

2a. Pectoral-fin rays 12–14 (usually 13); upper jaw projecting anterior to lower jaw...................... Bryaninops tigris

2b. Pectoral-fin rays 15 or 16; jaws equal........................................................ Bryaninops yongei

3a. No recurved canine tooth at side of lower jaw; gill opening extending forward to posterior edge of preopercle; pectoral-fin rays 13 or 14............................................................................... Bryaninops ridens

3b. A recurved canine tooth at side of lower jaw; gill opening extending forward to or anterior to posterior edge of orbit; pectoralfin rays 14–17 (usually 15 or 16)..........................................................................4

4a. Snout long, longer than orbit diameter, 41% head length; anal soft rays 8; pelvic frenum without an anteriorly-directed pocket, the pelvic spines flattened to a lobe and joined to frenum............................. Bryaninops spongicolus , n. sp.

4b. Snout not long, usually shorter than orbit diameter, 20–31% head length; anal soft rays usually 9; pelvic frenum with an anteriorly-directed pocket, the pelvic spines short and fleshy........................................................ 5

5a. Body slender, the depth at anus 11–13% SL; posterior interorbital pore present; body transparent only dorsally where crossed by saddle-like bars.....................................................................................6

5b. Body not slender, the depth at anus 16–25% SL; posterior interorbital pore absent; body transparent except for yellow over abdomen.............................................................................. Bryaninops natans

6a. Pelvic fins cup-like; numerous dark brown dots (in preservative) over all of body posterior to abdomen; pink to red bars dorsally on body faint in life.................................................................... Bryaninops loki

6b. Pelvic fins dish-like in adults; numerous dark brown dots (in preservative) only on ventral half of body posterior to abdomen; pink and black bars dorsally on body distinct in life........................................ Bryaninops discus , n. sp.