Aulopareia vadosa, Larson & Jaafar, 2022

Larson, Helen K. & Jaafar, Zeehan, 2022, A review of the gobiid fish genus Aulopareia (Gobiidae: Gobiinae) with description of a new species from Kuwait and discussion of the status of Gobius cyanomos Bleeker, Zootaxa 5155 (4), pp. 493-516 : 512-514

Aulopareia vadosa new species

( Figs 14–15 ; Tables 1–3 )

Diagnosis. A species of Aulopareia with second dorsal fin I,10; anal fin I,9; pectoral fin 17–18; lateral scales 23–24; TRB 7–8; predorsal with about 14–15 cycloid scales terminating just posterior to interorbital space; three preopercular pores present; cheek and opercle naked; mental frenum fleshy but not bilobed; gill opening restricted, terminating at ventral base of pectoral fins; anterior half of body rounded, posterior half laterally compressed; live colours and patterns unknown, in preservative, pale beige with dark brown elongate oval spot commencing just anterior of dorsal insertion of opercle and terminating posterior to pectoral fin base; inner folds of branchiostegal rays dusky.

Material examined. KUWAIT: ZRC 54321, 1 (32.0 mm), holotype, Sports Club, Sulaibikhat Bay , Kuwait, coll. J. Bishop, 13 November 2014 ; ZRC 54322, 1 (24.0 mm), paratype, Sports Club, Sulaibikhat Bay , Kuwait, coll. J. Bishop, 13 November 2014 ; SAIAB 209541 , 1 (23.0 mm), paratype, Kuwait Bay , coll. J. Bishop, 7 December 2014 .

Description. Based on three male specimens, 23.0–32.0 mm SL ( Fig. 14 ) (morphometrics presented in text below; means are presented). Counts for holotype indicated by asterisk.

First dorsal fin VI* second dorsal fin I, 10*; anal fin I, 9*; pectoral fin rays 17–18*; segmented caudal fin rays 16–17*, in 9/8 and 8/7 pattern; 7/7 and 7/8 branched caudal fin rays; lateral scales 23–24*; TRB 7–8*; TRF 8–10*; predorsal scales 14*–15, one specimen slightly damaged at predorsal area (10 scales observed).

Body compressed posteriorly, rounded anteriorly. Head rounded, dorsoventrally depressed, head length 26.5- 29.6% (mean 28.1%) of SL; head depth 45.1–54.1% (mean 50.5%) of HL; head width 43.7–54.4% (mean 48.5%) of HL. Mouth terminal, oblique, forming an angle of about 35–40° with body axis; lower lip and chin tip anteriormost; jaws reaching short of mid-eye; upper jaw length 38.9–45.9% (mean 42.8%) of HL. Eyes 15.5–16.7% (mean 16.2%) of HL. Snout rounded in dorsal view, 9.8–15.6% (mean 12.2%) of HL; posterior nostril oval, placed anterior and interior to each eye; anterior nostril in low tube with low rounded flap on dorsal side of tube. Interorbital flat, 4.9–6.7% (mean 5.7%) of HL. Body depth at anus 12.2–13.3% (mean 12.8%) of SL. Caudal peduncle compressed, length 22.1–25.0% (mean 23.1%) of SL; caudal peduncle depth 7.2–8.8% (mean 8.1%) of SL.

First dorsal fin pointed, fourth spine longest. Second dorsal fin more than half height of first dorsal fin, slightly pointed posteriorly. Anal fin similar in height to second dorsal fin; fin slightly pointed posteriorly. Second dorsal and anal fin rays falling well short of caudal fin when depressed. Pectoral fin oval, central rays longest, pectoral fin length 21.9–24.6% (mean 23.6%) of SL; all rays branched, posterior tip of fin falling well short of anus. Pelvic fins oval, innermost rays longest, pelvic fin length 17.1–19.7% (mean 18.8%) in SL. Caudal fin short, tapering, pointed posteriorly, 25.3–28.3% (mean 26.6%) of SL.

Gill opening terminating at ventral base of pectoral fin. Gill rakers on outer face of first arch relatively short; rakers on inner face of first arch and outer face of second arch stubby and low.

Teeth in upper jaw in about three to four rows across front, narrowing to two to one at side of jaw, outermost row of teeth largest, curved inwards and pointed at tips; teeth in innermost row small, sharp and evenly sized. Teeth in lower jaw similar to those in upper jaw; outermost row of teeth in lower jaw slightly more upright than outer row of teeth in upper jaw; outermost teeth slightly larger and caniniform at mid-point of jaw.

Predorsal scales small, cycloid, terminating posterior to interorbital space; cheek and opercle naked; pectoral fin base covered with cycloid scales; prepelvic area with cycloid scales at isthmus; body scales weakly ctenoid posteriorly and cycloid anteriorly including belly region.

Sensory canals and pores. Nasal pore at level of each posterior nostril, anterior interorbital pore absent, single posterior interorbital pore, no postorbital pore, elongate oval slit-like pore behind eye and two pores present on canal over preopercle; a pore at each end of short, separate part of oculoscapular canal over opercle; three preopercular pores present ( Fig. 15 ). Sensory papillae in longitudinal pattern.

Preserved colour. Head and body light beige to cream, uniform base colour throughout body; scale margins, especially on dorsal half of body, dusky grey to brown; 5–7 indistinct dark grey to brown blotches on dorsal region when viewed from above; distinct dark brown elongate oval blotch commencing anterior to opercular insertion and terminating posterior to pectoral fin base; branchiostegal rays dusky grey; first dorsal, second dorsal, and anal fins pale dusky grey, caudal and pectoral fins dusky grey to brown, with distinct dark margin along ventral margin; small white spot on dorsal base of pectoral fin ( Fig. 14 ).

Etymology. From the Latin vadosus, referring to shoals or shallow water, as the intertidal is the only habitat from which it is known (soft-bottom habitats within Kuwait Bay).

Comparisons. This small species does not resemble any of its congeners and is distinguished by the dark oval blotch above the pectoral-fin base.

Figures

FIGURE 14. Aulopareia vadosa n. sp., 32mm SL holotype, ZRC 54321, Sulaibikhat Bay, Kuwait. Photograph by Heok Hui Tan.

FIGURE 15. Sensory pores and papilla in Aulopareia vadosa n. sp.; ZRC 54321, holotype, 32 mm SL, male. Photograph by Heok Hui Tan.