elongate and diffuse, often indistinct. Attains 11 cm. Western Indian Ocean, south to Transkei; possibly in Pacific.
240.46 Gnatholepis sp. 2
PLATE 123
Slender weeper
Siank huiler
Gobius capistratus: Smith, SFSA No. 931 (in part). Acentrogobius
caurensis: Smith, 1959: 202 (in part, Pl. 11D); 1961: 307 (in part); 570, No.
931 (in part).
D VI+ 1,11; A 1,11; P 17-18; LS23-25; TRB 9-lD; PD9-11. Cheek scales
extend forward to just behind front edge of eye; cheek, opercle and nape
with cycloid scales; P base with cycloid and ctenoid scales.
Body pale white to yellow, often with dark longitudinal
lines dorsally and faint blotches along midside; a large diffuse spot above P base. Attains 6 cm. Indo-Pacific, south to
Sodwana Bay.
Genus Gobiodon Bleeker, 1856
Head and body compressed; scales absent (present on
caudal peduncle of some extralimital species). V small, united. Head pores Type A; sensory papillae reduced, often
not visible. Gill opening equal to or less than P base. A
VI+I,1O-13; A 1,8-11; P 15-20. Vertebrae 26. About 15
species, found in tropical waters among branches of coral
(mainly Acropora); 2 species in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
1a Front of 1st D elevated; gill opening ends opposite
7th or 8th ray from bottom of P; lips thin, width
about 4 in suborbital; eye subequal to or greater
than suborbital; usually a black spot at upper end
of opercular membrane; 2-4 vertical stripes on head,
none on body ....................................................... G. citrin us
1b First D margin rounded; gill opening ends opposite
3rd or 4th P ray from bottom; lips thick, width
about 2 in suborbital; eye less than suborbital;
no black opercular spot; usually more than 4
vertical stripes on head, and several on body .............. G. rivulatus
Coralgoby
240.47 Gobiodon citrinus
(Ruppell, 1830)
PLATE 123
Koraaldikkop
Gobius citrinus Riippell, 1830: 139, Pl. 32, Fig. 4 (Red Sea). Gobiodon
citrinus: Smith, 1959: 219*; 1961: 570, No. 905a.
D VI+I,lO; A 1,8-9; P 17-19. Several enlarged teeth in innermost row of
lower jaw.
Attains 6 cm. Indo-West Pacific, south to Delagoa Bay.
240: GOBIIDAE (GOBlES)
240.48 Gobiodon rivulatus
(Ruppell, 1830)
PLATE 123
Rippled coralgoby
Gerimpelde koraaldikkop
Gobius rivulatus Riippell, 1830: 136 (Red Sea). Gobiodon citrin us (non
Riippell): Smith, SFSA No. 905*. Gobiodon rivulatus: Smith, 1959: 219*;
1961: 570, No. 90S.
D VI +1,lD-11; A 1,8; P 19-21. A pair of enlarged teeth in inner row of
lower jaw.
Attains 5 cm. Indo-West Pacific, south to Sodwana Bay.
Genus Gobiopsis Steindachner, 1860
Head broad, depressed, with small barbels on lower surface and sides; horizontal fleshy fold on mid-cheek; interorbital narrow. Va disc. Head pores absent or Type A; no
postorbital pore; sometimes other pores reduced; head
papillae in longitudinal pattern. Gill opening to, or slightly
below P base. Tongue tip rounded. Scales cycloid or
ctenoid. D VI+I,10-11; A 1,9-10; P 18-23; LS 32-60. Vertebrae 26. Superficially similar to Callogobius, which lacks
barbels and has transverse folds on head. Thirteen species
found in tropical waters around rocks, coral or mangroves;
1 species in our area.
240.49 Gobiopsis pinto
(Smith, 1947)
PLATE 123
Snakehead goby
Siangkop-dikkop
Abranches pinto Smith, 1947: 813 (Delagoa Bay, Mozambique); SFSA
No. 909*; 1959: 211 *; 1960: 305. Gobiopsis pinto: Lachner & McKinney,
1978: 16*.
D VI+I,lD-11; A 1,9; P 20-21; LS 50-60; TRB 20-26. Body scales cycloid. Upper jaw 15-22% SL, reaching to under middle of eye or beyond.
Head pores present.
Attains 6.5 cm. Known only from Delagoa Bay, beneath
stones in tide pools in muddy areas.
Genus Hetereleotris Bleeker, 1874
First gill slit closed by membrane; anterior and posterior
nostrils tubular; cheek papillae pattern transverse; head
pores Type A or absent; interorbital and pre opercular
pores absent. Gill opening equals P base. V united. D
VI+I,8-13; A 1,7-12; P 15-19; LS 0-52; vertebrae 10+ 17.
Easily confused with Monishia and Coryga/ops which have
an open first gill slit. About 16 species found in tropicaV
subtropical areas around coral and rocky reefs; rare outside
Indian Ocean; 6 species in our area.
791
240.46 Gnatholepis sp. 2
PLATE 123
Slender weeper
Siank huiler
Gobius capistratus: Smith, SFSA No. 931 (in part). Acentrogobius
caurensis: Smith, 1959: 202 (in part, Pl. 11D); 1961: 307 (in part); 570, No.
931 (in part).
D VI+ 1,11; A 1,11; P 17-18; LS23-25; TRB 9-lD; PD9-11. Cheek scales
extend forward to just behind front edge of eye; cheek, opercle and nape
with cycloid scales; P base with cycloid and ctenoid scales.
Body pale white to yellow, often with dark longitudinal
lines dorsally and faint blotches along midside; a large diffuse spot above P base. Attains 6 cm. Indo-Pacific, south to
Sodwana Bay.
Genus Gobiodon Bleeker, 1856
Head and body compressed; scales absent (present on
caudal peduncle of some extralimital species). V small, united. Head pores Type A; sensory papillae reduced, often
not visible. Gill opening equal to or less than P base. A
VI+I,1O-13; A 1,8-11; P 15-20. Vertebrae 26. About 15
species, found in tropical waters among branches of coral
(mainly Acropora); 2 species in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
1a Front of 1st D elevated; gill opening ends opposite
7th or 8th ray from bottom of P; lips thin, width
about 4 in suborbital; eye subequal to or greater
than suborbital; usually a black spot at upper end
of opercular membrane; 2-4 vertical stripes on head,
none on body ....................................................... G. citrin us
1b First D margin rounded; gill opening ends opposite
3rd or 4th P ray from bottom; lips thick, width
about 2 in suborbital; eye less than suborbital;
no black opercular spot; usually more than 4
vertical stripes on head, and several on body .............. G. rivulatus
Coralgoby
240.47 Gobiodon citrinus
(Ruppell, 1830)
PLATE 123
Koraaldikkop
Gobius citrinus Riippell, 1830: 139, Pl. 32, Fig. 4 (Red Sea). Gobiodon
citrinus: Smith, 1959: 219*; 1961: 570, No. 905a.
D VI+I,lO; A 1,8-9; P 17-19. Several enlarged teeth in innermost row of
lower jaw.
Attains 6 cm. Indo-West Pacific, south to Delagoa Bay.
240: GOBIIDAE (GOBlES)
240.48 Gobiodon rivulatus
(Ruppell, 1830)
PLATE 123
Rippled coralgoby
Gerimpelde koraaldikkop
Gobius rivulatus Riippell, 1830: 136 (Red Sea). Gobiodon citrin us (non
Riippell): Smith, SFSA No. 905*. Gobiodon rivulatus: Smith, 1959: 219*;
1961: 570, No. 90S.
D VI +1,lD-11; A 1,8; P 19-21. A pair of enlarged teeth in inner row of
lower jaw.
Attains 5 cm. Indo-West Pacific, south to Sodwana Bay.
Genus Gobiopsis Steindachner, 1860
Head broad, depressed, with small barbels on lower surface and sides; horizontal fleshy fold on mid-cheek; interorbital narrow. Va disc. Head pores absent or Type A; no
postorbital pore; sometimes other pores reduced; head
papillae in longitudinal pattern. Gill opening to, or slightly
below P base. Tongue tip rounded. Scales cycloid or
ctenoid. D VI+I,10-11; A 1,9-10; P 18-23; LS 32-60. Vertebrae 26. Superficially similar to Callogobius, which lacks
barbels and has transverse folds on head. Thirteen species
found in tropical waters around rocks, coral or mangroves;
1 species in our area.
240.49 Gobiopsis pinto
(Smith, 1947)
PLATE 123
Snakehead goby
Siangkop-dikkop
Abranches pinto Smith, 1947: 813 (Delagoa Bay, Mozambique); SFSA
No. 909*; 1959: 211 *; 1960: 305. Gobiopsis pinto: Lachner & McKinney,
1978: 16*.
D VI+I,lD-11; A 1,9; P 20-21; LS 50-60; TRB 20-26. Body scales cycloid. Upper jaw 15-22% SL, reaching to under middle of eye or beyond.
Head pores present.
Attains 6.5 cm. Known only from Delagoa Bay, beneath
stones in tide pools in muddy areas.
Genus Hetereleotris Bleeker, 1874
First gill slit closed by membrane; anterior and posterior
nostrils tubular; cheek papillae pattern transverse; head
pores Type A or absent; interorbital and pre opercular
pores absent. Gill opening equals P base. V united. D
VI+I,8-13; A 1,7-12; P 15-19; LS 0-52; vertebrae 10+ 17.
Easily confused with Monishia and Coryga/ops which have
an open first gill slit. About 16 species found in tropicaV
subtropical areas around coral and rocky reefs; rare outside
Indian Ocean; 6 species in our area.
791