dark stripe near base and a black spot at rear of fin; V with
black band just inside outer margin, more intense at rear of
fin in male. Attains 5.5 cm. Known only from Mozambique
(Palma to Inhaca).
Genus Asterropteryx Ruppell, 1830
Rear margin of preopercle with 1-9 rounded spines;
cheek and operculum with large scales; V separate or
united, frenum present or absent; head pores Type A; gill
opening equals P base. D VI+ 1,9-10; A 1,8-9; P 16-20;
LS 23-26. Vertebrae 26. Sometimes confused with Oplopomus, which has stiff 1st spine of both D, and flattened
preopercle spines. Found on coral reefs. About 7 species, 1
in our area.
240.7 Asterropteryx semipunctatus
Ruppell,1830
PLATE 122
Starryfin goby
Stervin-dikkop
Asterropteryx semipunctatus Ruppell, 1830: 138, PI. 34, Fig. 4 (Red
Sea); Smith, 1958: 143'; 1961 : 570, No. 937a.
D VI +1,9-10; A 1,8-9; P 16-18; LS 23-25; TRB 7-8; PD 6-8. Preopercle
with 3-9 short spines; V separate ; 3rd D spine filamentous.
Colour variable, body tan to almost black with numerous
light spots; midside with small elongate dark spots, often
with short vertical bars or saddles dorsally . Attains 6.5 cm.
Likes dirty water. Indian Ocean, tropical western and central Pacific Ocean, south to Durban.
Genus Austro/ethops Whitley, 1935
Scales completely absent; V 1,4, separate; no spine in 2nd
D and A; head compressed; gill opening to below mid-operculum; head pores absent; papillae reduced, transverse.
One tropical species from coral rubble.
Nudey goby
240.8 Austrolethops ward;
Whitley, 1935
Kaaltjie-dikkop
Austrolethops wardi Whitley, 1935: 243, Fig. 10 (Queensland, Australia);
Smith, 1958: 155'; 1961: 570, No. 939a.
240.9 Awaous aeneofuscus: 16.5 em (Transkei).
240: GOBIIDAE (GOBlES)
o VI + 14-15; A 13-14; P 16-17. Mouth reaches below front to middle of
eye.
Body and head brown; 1st D dark; front of 2nd D and A
pale, rest of these fins dark; C pale; P light to dusky, often
with dark bar along upper Yz; V black. Attains 6 cm. Inhaca
to Shimoni and Aldabra; Philippines and Great Barrier
Reef.
240.8 Austro/ethops ward;: 6 em (Kenya).
Genus Awaous Valenciennes, 1837
Small finger-like flaps on shoulder girdle; upper lip thick;
tongue tip notched or bilobed; interorbital broad; head
pore pattern Type B; head papillae pattern transverse; V a
disc; gill opening subequal to P base; scales ctenoid.
D VI+ 1,9-11; A 1,10-11; P 15-18; LS 45-65. Vertebrae 26.
Most easily confused with Stenogobius, which has a compressed head and thin upper lip. Often confused with
Platygobius from Madagascar, which has cheek scales but
may be synonymous. Tropical species, primarily found in
freshwater and upper parts of estuaries. Few species, one in
our area.
240.9 Awaous aeneofuscus
(Peters, 1852)
PLATE 122
Freshwater goby
Varswater-dikkop
Gobius aeneofuscus Peters, 1852: 681 (Mozambique); Peters, 1868:
18'; Smith, SFSA No. 925*. Platygobius aeneofuscus: Smith, 1959: 191';
1960: 301; 1961 : 570, No. 925*.
D VI+I,9-11; A 1,10-11; P 15-17; LS 50-62; TRB 15-18; PD 23-32.
Tongue fused to floor of mouth in adult . Mouth small in female, not reaching eye; male with larger mouth, reaching to below eye. Head broadens
with age; tongue and roof of mouth with enlarged papillae. No scales on
cheek or operculum.
779
black band just inside outer margin, more intense at rear of
fin in male. Attains 5.5 cm. Known only from Mozambique
(Palma to Inhaca).
Genus Asterropteryx Ruppell, 1830
Rear margin of preopercle with 1-9 rounded spines;
cheek and operculum with large scales; V separate or
united, frenum present or absent; head pores Type A; gill
opening equals P base. D VI+ 1,9-10; A 1,8-9; P 16-20;
LS 23-26. Vertebrae 26. Sometimes confused with Oplopomus, which has stiff 1st spine of both D, and flattened
preopercle spines. Found on coral reefs. About 7 species, 1
in our area.
240.7 Asterropteryx semipunctatus
Ruppell,1830
PLATE 122
Starryfin goby
Stervin-dikkop
Asterropteryx semipunctatus Ruppell, 1830: 138, PI. 34, Fig. 4 (Red
Sea); Smith, 1958: 143'; 1961 : 570, No. 937a.
D VI +1,9-10; A 1,8-9; P 16-18; LS 23-25; TRB 7-8; PD 6-8. Preopercle
with 3-9 short spines; V separate ; 3rd D spine filamentous.
Colour variable, body tan to almost black with numerous
light spots; midside with small elongate dark spots, often
with short vertical bars or saddles dorsally . Attains 6.5 cm.
Likes dirty water. Indian Ocean, tropical western and central Pacific Ocean, south to Durban.
Genus Austro/ethops Whitley, 1935
Scales completely absent; V 1,4, separate; no spine in 2nd
D and A; head compressed; gill opening to below mid-operculum; head pores absent; papillae reduced, transverse.
One tropical species from coral rubble.
Nudey goby
240.8 Austrolethops ward;
Whitley, 1935
Kaaltjie-dikkop
Austrolethops wardi Whitley, 1935: 243, Fig. 10 (Queensland, Australia);
Smith, 1958: 155'; 1961: 570, No. 939a.
240.9 Awaous aeneofuscus: 16.5 em (Transkei).
240: GOBIIDAE (GOBlES)
o VI + 14-15; A 13-14; P 16-17. Mouth reaches below front to middle of
eye.
Body and head brown; 1st D dark; front of 2nd D and A
pale, rest of these fins dark; C pale; P light to dusky, often
with dark bar along upper Yz; V black. Attains 6 cm. Inhaca
to Shimoni and Aldabra; Philippines and Great Barrier
Reef.
240.8 Austro/ethops ward;: 6 em (Kenya).
Genus Awaous Valenciennes, 1837
Small finger-like flaps on shoulder girdle; upper lip thick;
tongue tip notched or bilobed; interorbital broad; head
pore pattern Type B; head papillae pattern transverse; V a
disc; gill opening subequal to P base; scales ctenoid.
D VI+ 1,9-11; A 1,10-11; P 15-18; LS 45-65. Vertebrae 26.
Most easily confused with Stenogobius, which has a compressed head and thin upper lip. Often confused with
Platygobius from Madagascar, which has cheek scales but
may be synonymous. Tropical species, primarily found in
freshwater and upper parts of estuaries. Few species, one in
our area.
240.9 Awaous aeneofuscus
(Peters, 1852)
PLATE 122
Freshwater goby
Varswater-dikkop
Gobius aeneofuscus Peters, 1852: 681 (Mozambique); Peters, 1868:
18'; Smith, SFSA No. 925*. Platygobius aeneofuscus: Smith, 1959: 191';
1960: 301; 1961 : 570, No. 925*.
D VI+I,9-11; A 1,10-11; P 15-17; LS 50-62; TRB 15-18; PD 23-32.
Tongue fused to floor of mouth in adult . Mouth small in female, not reaching eye; male with larger mouth, reaching to below eye. Head broadens
with age; tongue and roof of mouth with enlarged papillae. No scales on
cheek or operculum.
779