Gobius, Russell & Fraser & Larson, 2010

Russell, Barry C., Fraser, Thomas H. & Larson, Helen K., 2010, Castelnau’S Collection Of Singapore Fishes Described By Pieter Bleeker, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 58 (1), pp. 93-102 : 99

Gobius melanopus Bleeker, 1860

Castelnau painting No. 193 ( Fig. 17 ) is labeled as “ Gobius sp. nov. ” and “ Gobius melanopus Cast. ” Gobius melanopus was described by Bleeker in 1860c, based on Castelnau’s figure and the name attributed to Castelnau. No type material is known. The species name has been used as a valid name by Larson (in Randall & Lim 2000: 637); where it was cited as ‘ Cryptocentrus ’ melanopus , as at that time it was thought that the species name may refer to a group of species that include Cryptocentrus russus and C. voigtii – species that may belong to a separate genus.

The species illustrated by Castelnau agrees with Cryptocentrus leptocephalus Bleeker, 1876 , based on a specimen from Singapore (RMNH 4665). Castelnau’s painting clearly shows the large pink spots and short pink streaks on the head, dorsal fins and pectoral fin base, dark anal fin, the oblique pinkish brown bars on the body, and the characteristic pinkish red and yellow-striped pelvic fins with blackish tips (compare with photos in Kuiter & Tonozuka, 2001: 631; Senou et al., 2004: 316–317). Hence, Cryptocentrus melanopus Bleeker, 1860c , is the senior synonym of C. leptocephalus Bleeker, 1876 . Under the 2000 ICZN Code, precedence must be maintained, as reversal of precedence (Article 23.9) cannot be met since the senior synonym has been used as a valid name after 1899 (although the junior synonym has been used for the species by at least 10 authors).

Figures

Figs. 10–17. Figures 10, 11: dried mounted specimens in the collection of the Zoological Museum of the University of Liège, Beligium (ZMUL), catalogue numbers 2378a and 2378b. Figures 12–17: Castlenau’s paintings, numbers 163, 171, 482, 483, 625 and 193, respectively.