Pleurosicya prognatha Goren, 1984

Goren, Menachem, Bogorodsky, Sergey V. & B-S, Shevy, 2023, How many valid Pleurosicya (Teleostei: Gobiidae) species are known from the Red Sea?, Zootaxa 5258 (1), pp. 113-129 : 126-127

Pleurosicya prognatha Goren, 1984

Beaked Ghostgoby

Figure 9

Pleurosicya prognatha Goren, 1984: 76 (type locality: Marsa Barecha, southern Sinai Peninsula; holotype: TAU 6478)— Golani & Bogorodsky 2010: 48 (listed); Golani & Fricke 2018: 159 (listed).

Distinctive characters (based on Goren, 1984, on reexamination of type material and on a photograph). Pectoralfin rays 14–16 (usually 15); midline of nape and side of nape naked, scales on side of body not extending forward to pectoral-fin base (with the exception of the holotype); gill opening extending forward to below base of pectoral fin; tip of tongue rounded; front of upper lip thick, protruding, the tip pointed and downturned over front of mouth, giving beak-like appearance and bearing tiny teeth. Body translucent light green, becoming blue ventrally on head and chest, body densely speckled with dark brown-orange and black dots; an internal white band visible along anterior half of vertebral column; head with scattered small orange spots below eye; both dorsal and anal fins with dark dots, mainly basally.

Distribution and Habitat. Known from the Red Sea and Djibouti in the Western Indian Ocean, also reported from the Andaman Sea, Western Australia, and eastern Australia (Great Barrier Reef) ( Larson 1990). Found on branches of corals of the genus Acropora , at depths of 1– 20 m. One coral colony may harbor a social group of this species, from juveniles to adults.

Remarks. The species is widespread but known from disjunct localities. Only specimens from the type locality (Red Sea) were available for the phylogenetic analysis. Specimens from the eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific are needed for comparative genetic analysis.

Figures

FIGURE 9. Pleurosicya prognatha, Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, Red Sea. Photo by S.V. Bogorodsky.