taxonID	type	description	language	source
030D4D18FFA12017B2B4EC6978B5E61D.taxon	vernacular_names	Local English name: Noodlefish	en	Larson, Helen K., Boseto, David, Jenkins, Aaron, Chen, I-Shiung (2025): A new record of Formosaneleotris hualienensis (Gobioidei), from the Solomon Islands. Zootaxa 5661 (4): 561-566, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5661.4.6, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
030D4D18FFA12017B2B4EC6978B5E61D.taxon	description	Description. First dorsal fin absent; second dorsal fin small and short-based with 1 spine and 8 branched rays. Anal fin short-based, originating opposite to dorsal fin, with 1 spine and 8 branched rays. Pectoral fin with 14 branched rays. Pelvic fins separate, no frenum. Caudal fin rounded (appears bilobed but the radiograph shows that the split is due to damage) with 19 rays (10 + 9), branched in 7 / 6 pattern. Six branchiostegal rays. Vertebrae 11 + 14. Dorsal pteryiophores 12 - 22232. Three epurals. Body naked, slender (body depth at anus 9.9 % of SL), somewhat compressed, becoming more rounded anteriorly. Head wider than deep, its width 56.2 % of HL, its depth 36.0 % of HL, and length 21.4 % SL. Opercular and preopercular spine absent. Snout slightly pointed, 23.6 % of HL. Eye small, 7.9 % of HL. Interorbital wide and flattened, 22.5 % in HL. Jaws large, reaching past rear of orbit, 38.2 % in HL. Gill opening moderate, not quite reaching below posterior edge of preopercle. Lateral canals and pores absent. Sensory papillae well-developed on head and side of body (Figs. 2 – 6). Large, oval to rounded papillae on anterior part of head bulbous and fleshy, with small raised central area. Urogenital papilla flattened, with slightly pointed tip. Live colour. Body and most of head red, with pale reddish jaws and lower cheek (Fig. 2). Dorsal surface of head with indistinct brown tinge, and a pale brownish bar from lower edge of eye to middle of upper jaw. Fin rays hyaline, membranes transparent.	en	Larson, Helen K., Boseto, David, Jenkins, Aaron, Chen, I-Shiung (2025): A new record of Formosaneleotris hualienensis (Gobioidei), from the Solomon Islands. Zootaxa 5661 (4): 561-566, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5661.4.6, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
030D4D18FFA12017B2B4EC6978B5E61D.taxon	biology_ecology	Habitat. Shallow (≤ 0.5 m depth), clear, freshwater river, about 13 m wide, with a flow rate of 1.5 m / sec, and gravel, cobble and rocks as substrates. The fish was found near a fossilised coral rock.	en	Larson, Helen K., Boseto, David, Jenkins, Aaron, Chen, I-Shiung (2025): A new record of Formosaneleotris hualienensis (Gobioidei), from the Solomon Islands. Zootaxa 5661 (4): 561-566, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5661.4.6, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
030D4D18FFA12017B2B4EC6978B5E61D.taxon	discussion	Remarks. At first sight, the Solomons specimen greatly resembled a Luciogobius. Chen’s sample of Formosaneleotris hualienensis was from lowland habitat near the mouth of the Hualien River in Jian Village, Hualien County, Taiwan. The specimen was obtained from a fisherman, whose son was keeping it as a pet. After the formal description of Formosaneleotris, local freshwater ecologists brought Chen’s attention to a phone-video of a specimen collected in 2023, from a freshwater habitat in the Tsau-Shan-Shi basin, Fangliao Village, Pingtung County. The specimen, which was not preserved, has female characteristics, with a deeper, broader body. Formosaneleotris appears to be a mysterious eleotrid, possibly a butid, that requires further studies to understand its phylogenetic position, evolutionary history and biogeographical relationships (given its interesting distribution in two island localities separated by the vast waters of the Pacific Ocean).	en	Larson, Helen K., Boseto, David, Jenkins, Aaron, Chen, I-Shiung (2025): A new record of Formosaneleotris hualienensis (Gobioidei), from the Solomon Islands. Zootaxa 5661 (4): 561-566, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5661.4.6, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
030D4D18FFA12017B2B4EC6978B5E61D.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. Formosaneleotris hualienensis, NTM S. 16825 - 001, 41.5 mm SL possible male, from mid-Hokata River, 1.5 – 2 km from the river mouth, northern coast of Tetepare, Western Solomon Islands, 8 ° 43.12.46 ’ S & 157 ° 35.12.35 ’ E. Coll. A. Jenkins, D. Boseto, Mike, Bobby, Tony & Simba. 14 September 2006. Holotype, NTOUP- 2006 - 03 - 458, 44.2 mm SL male, Jian Village, Hualien River basin, Hualien County, Taiwan. coll. I-S. Chen & J-L. Huang, 20 August 2001	en	Larson, Helen K., Boseto, David, Jenkins, Aaron, Chen, I-Shiung (2025): A new record of Formosaneleotris hualienensis (Gobioidei), from the Solomon Islands. Zootaxa 5661 (4): 561-566, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5661.4.6, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5360.3.8
