Fusigobius neophytus (Günther, 1877)

Pinault, Mathieu, Wickel, Julien, Mulochau, Thierry, Nicet, Jean-Benoît & Fricke, Ronald, 2018, First record of five fish species from Réunion Island observed during the inventory of the Marine Natural Zones of Interest for Ecology, Flora and Fauna (ZNIEFF), Cybium 42 (4), pp. 386-390 : 387

Fusigobius neophytus (Günther, 1877)

ZNIEFF station: Saliba, Latitude: 21°1’16.32”S, Longitude: 55°13’31.84”E, Depth: 25 m, Date: 22 November 2017, Time: 9:00.

The solitary specimen of common fusegoby described in this work ( Fig. 3 ) was photographed on a sandy patch composed of coarse sediments of bioclastic origin (mainly corals and mollusc shells) at Saliba, off Boucan Canot (west coast of the island). This site is characterized by an alternation of soft sediments and prehistoric lava flows, forming in some places arches and caves partially colonized by corals. The mimetic behaviour of the photographed specimen made it almost invisible.

The distinctive morphological features of the species, observed on the photographed specimen (Tab. II), included a black spot located between the first two dorsal spines (upper half). The body was grey, semi-translucent, with small brown spots extending from the head to the base of the caudal fin. An alternation of small brown and white spots was also visible along a lateral line, ending at the base of the caudal fin with a darker, rounder brown spot. The opening of the gills, very little visible, was located almost below the rear edge of the operculum.

Figures

Figure 3. – Specimen of Fusigobius neophytus photographed on 22 November 2017 at 21°1’16.32”S and 55°13’31.84”E.