Eleotris klunzingerii Pfeffer, 1893

Mennesson, Marion Isabelle & Keith, Philippe, 2017, Evidence of two species currently under the name of Eleotris fusca (Gobioidei: Eleotridae) in the Indian Ocean, Cybium 41 (2), pp. 213-220 : 217-219

Revalidation of Eleotris klunzingerii Pfeffer, 1893

Among species placed in synonymy with E. fusca (Eschmeyer et al., 2016) , there are no types known for E. cavifrons Blyth, 1860 , E. incerta Blyth, 1860 and Cheilodipterus culius Hamilton, 1822 . So, we follow Kottelat (2013) who placed them as synonyms of E. fusca . After examination of the E. soaresi syntype, we concluded with the ‘2.3.4’ pattern observed that it is a synonym of E. melanosoma and not of E. fusca . With the permission of the BMNH, the DNA of E. fornasini holotype (BMNH 1852.9.13.179) * has been extracted and used to amplify the COI gene (585 bp) revealing its synonymy to E. fusca

* The status of BMNH 1852.9.13.179 is uncertain. It is cited in Eschmeyer et al. (2011) as a syntype of Eleotris mauritiana . But it is labelled as the holotype of E. fornasini in Kottelat, 2013.

Body depth at second dorsal fin origin in males (%BDM) 171819202122232425 Eleotris cf. fusca Indian male 1 2 − 2 2 − 1 Eleotris fusca Indo-P male 1 1 2 3 4 1 − 2

(Pacific area) ( Fig. 2 ).

Finally, after examination of the E. klunzingerii type, we concluded that this species is valid and is the right name for E. cf. fusca cited by Mennesson (2016) and used here.

Distribution

E. klunzingerii Pfeffer, 1893 is currently known only in the Indian Ocean ( Zanzibar, Reunion, Mayotte).

Acknowledgments. – The study was conducted in the context of M.I. Mennesson PhD and supported by the UMR BOREA (7208), the French Ichthyological Society (SFI) and the MNHN. For the Seychelles, we would like to thank the UNDP and particularly E. Henriette, B. Santerre and their team. Thanks to R. Fanchette, Ministry of Environment and Energy, Wildlife, Trade and Conservation section, for agreeing to the transfer of material. For the Comoros, we would particularly like to thank Yahaya Ibrahim (CNDRS). For Madagascar, we are grateful to J. Aride from Madagascar National Parks (MNP-ANGAP), to the Manager of Masoala National Parc at Maroantsetra, and to the DIAMSOI team. For Reunion and Mayotte, we thank the Environment Office, the Agriculture Office, and ARDA. For the Solomon Islands, we would like to acknowledge the customary landowners, villages and tribes, ESSI and the Solomon Islands’ Government for the support and facilitation of the legal process. For Vanuatu, we would like to acknowledge the Department of Environmental Protection and Conservation (DEPC) and D. Kalfatak for providing us the research permit. For Samoa, we acknowledge the Samoan Ministry of Natural Resources Environment and Meteorology and Conservation International. For the Cook Islands, we would like to thank the Office of the Prime Min- ister of the Cook Islands in Rarotonga. For French Polynesia, we especially want to thank the Research Delegation (especially J.Y. Meyer), and the Environment Delegation. For New Caledonia, we would like to thank J.J. Cassa, from the North Province. For the loan of specimens, we thank: D. Catania (CAS), R. de Ruiter (RMNH), S. Dorow, H. Zetzsche, T.J. Alpermann and F. Krupp (SMF), S. Morrison and G.R. Allen (WAM), R. Vonk and H. Praag- man (ZMA), R. Hadiaty (MZB), S. Merker (SMNS), I. Eidus (ZMH), T. Heath and J. Maclaine (BMNH), L. Parenti, J. Williams, L. Palmer and S. Raredon (USNM), P. Pruvost, R. Causse, Z. Gabsi, C. Ferrara, M. Hautecoeur (MNHN). Finally, we would like to thank the “Service de systématique moléculaire” of the MNHN (CNRS UMS 2700) for the laboratory access and the assistance provided.

Figures

Figure 2. – Bayesian tree of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit (COI) for sequenced specimens of Eleotris. Numbers on the nodes represent posterior probabilities.