Nemateleotris, Fowler, 1938

Tea, Yi-Kai & Larson, Helen K., 2023, Synopsis of the ptereleotrine goby genus Nemateleotris, with description of a new species from the western and central Pacific Ocean (Teleostei: Gobiidae), Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 71, pp. 248-266 : 253-254

Key to the species of Nemateleotris

1. Caudal fin round with a pair of oblique stripes (green in life, tan to black in preservation) forming a chevron, their tips converging at central outermost edge; first dorsal-fin spine very elongate and filamentous, length up to 1.4 in SL; body in life pale pink to white anteriorly, grading through bright orange red, becoming increasingly dusky red posteriorly; ctenoid scales on dorsoposterior portion of body with more than 15 ctenii; anal fin unmarked except for a short horizontal stripe at posterior third of fin; pelvic fins unmarked....................... N. magnifica

– Caudal fin truncate or weakly emarginate, purple with red markings or translucent greenish yellow in life; first dorsalfin spine long but not filamentous and more than 2.5 in SL; body without red colouration in life; ctenoid scales on dorsoposterior portion of body with fewer than 10 ctenii; pelvic fins bicoloured .........................................................................2

2. Median fins purple and red in life; central portion of caudal fin purple in life (dusky in preservation), upper and lower lobes red (translucent in preservation); body in life pale grey to yellow anteriorly, becoming increasingly dusky-purple posteriorly (dusky tan in preservation); dorsal edge of iris without black marking; pelvic fin red-tipped in life (dark tan in preservation); maxilla purple, lower corner with red or black mark (dark tan in preservation); anal-fin rays 28–32 (rarely 28); posterior most dorsal- and anal-fin rays usually branched.............. N. decora

– Median fins translucent, pale greenish yellow in life; distalmost edge of second dorsal and anal fin lined with yellow spots, one in each interradial membrane space, spots sometimes coalescing; caudal fin unmarked; elevated portion of first dorsal fin in life blue on anterior edge; body in life lavender to lilac, purplish grey to tan in preservation; dorsal edge of iris with a black mark at 1 o’clock position (in life and preservation), continuing onto interorbital space as a short streak; pelvic fins black-tipped (in life and preservation); anal-fin rays 25–28; posterior most dorsal- and anal-fin rays usually unbranched.........................3

3. Maxilla black (in life and preservation); snout bright pink; head lavender to lilac in life, weakly overlaid with yellow on lower edge of orbit, preopercle, and postorbital region to origin of anterior first dorsal fin........................................... N. helfrichi

– Maxilla unmarked (yellow in life, pale tan in preservation); snout, lower jaw, preopercle, and postorbital region to origin of anterior first dorsal fin bright yellow, rest of head lavender to lilac ............................................ N. lavandula , new species