240: GOBIIDAE (GOBlES)
o XIV-XVII H,1O; A I,9-1O; P 12-13. First 0 and 2nd 0 contiguous.
Dusky; both D with white margin and black stripe below.
Attains 14 cm. Seychelles, Red Sea to Transkei.
240.79 Periophthalmus sobrinus: 14 em (Seychelles).
Genus Pleurosicya Weber, 1913
V rays highly branched; V frenum with fleshy lobes at tips
of V spines; snout obtusely pointed; head broad; interorbital narrow; head pores Type A; cheek papillae reduced.
Gill opening varying from lower end of P base to under eye.
Scales ctenoid. Outer row of teeth enlarged in upper jaw; a
large pair of symphysial teeth in lower jaw. Second D 1,7-9;
A 1,7-9; P 14-21; LS 18-31. Vertebrae 26. Tropical species
normally found on various invertebrate hosts, such as soft
corals, sponges and some hard corals. About 15 species, 4 in
our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
1a Nape scaled to eye; black spot at base of 1st 0;
gill opening extends under eye; membranes form
free fold across isthmus ...................................................... 3
1b Nape naked; no black spot on 1st 0; gill opening
restricted to P base or extending to under operculum
with membranes attached to sides of isthmus ........................... 2
2a P 17-1S; LS 22-25; tongue bluntly rounded ........ .. ..... P. muscarum
2b P 14-16; LS 24-31; tongue pointed ................................. P. sp. 1
3a Body depth at anus 6.5-7.0 in SL; P 17-19;
TRB 7; (coral reefs) ........................................ P. mossambica
3b Body depth at anus 4.6-5.7 in SL; P 19-20;
TRB 9; (trawled 14-70 m) .......................... ......... P. annandalei
240.80 Pleurosicya annandalei
Hornell & Fowler, 1922
Scaly nape goby
Skubkop-dikkop
Pleurosicya annandalei Hornell & Fowler, 1922: 924 (Tuticorin, India);
Larson & Haese, 19S0: 36*.
240.80 Pleurosicya annandalei: 2.5 em male (after Larson & Hoese, 1980).
800
o VI + I,S-9; A I,S-9; P 19-20; LS 23; TRB 9; PO 9-10; GR 2+5. Lower
Y j of 1st gill arch bound to gill cover by membrane. Tongue blunt to concave.
Attains 3 cm. Known only from dredges from 14 - 70 m.
Found on gorgonians. Sodwana Bay, northern Indian
Ocean and New Guinea.
240.81 Pleurosicya mossambica
Smith, 1959
Toothy goby
Getande-dikkop
Pleurosicya mossambica Smith, 1959: 21S, Fig. 37 (Pinda); Haese &
Winterbottom: 1979: 4.
o VI + I,S; AI,S; P 17-19; LS 23-24; TRB 6-S; GR 2+ 7 (rudimentary).
Lower ~ or less of 1st gill arch bound to gill cover by membrane. Tongue
blunt to rounded. Gill opening extending to below rear Yz of eye. Predorsal
scaled.
Found on soft corals, sponges, Tridacna and broadbladed plants. Attains 3 cm. Sodwana Bay, Mozambique,
Seychelles and tropical Indo-West Pacific.
240.81 Pleurosicya mossambica: 2.5 em holotype (N. Mozambique).
Ghost goby
240.82 Pleurosicya muscarum
(Jordan & Seale, 1906)
Spook-dikkop
Rhinogobius muscarum Jordan & Seale, 1906: 401, Fig. 90 (Samoa).
Pleurosicyops timidus Smith, 1959: 217, Fig. 35 (Pinda). Pleurosicya
timidus: Haese & Winterbottom, 1979: 4.
o VI+I,7-S; A I,7-9; P 17-1S; LS 22-25; TRB 6-7; GR 2+(3-6) (very
rudimentary). Lower ~ to i3 of 1st gill arch bound to gill cover by membrane. Predorsal naked.
Found on soft corals. Attains 2.2 cm. Mozambique,
Seychelles, Chagos Archipelago and tropical Pacific.
240.82 Pleurosicya muscarum: 2 em holotype of P. timidus (N. Mozambique).
o XIV-XVII H,1O; A I,9-1O; P 12-13. First 0 and 2nd 0 contiguous.
Dusky; both D with white margin and black stripe below.
Attains 14 cm. Seychelles, Red Sea to Transkei.
240.79 Periophthalmus sobrinus: 14 em (Seychelles).
Genus Pleurosicya Weber, 1913
V rays highly branched; V frenum with fleshy lobes at tips
of V spines; snout obtusely pointed; head broad; interorbital narrow; head pores Type A; cheek papillae reduced.
Gill opening varying from lower end of P base to under eye.
Scales ctenoid. Outer row of teeth enlarged in upper jaw; a
large pair of symphysial teeth in lower jaw. Second D 1,7-9;
A 1,7-9; P 14-21; LS 18-31. Vertebrae 26. Tropical species
normally found on various invertebrate hosts, such as soft
corals, sponges and some hard corals. About 15 species, 4 in
our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
1a Nape scaled to eye; black spot at base of 1st 0;
gill opening extends under eye; membranes form
free fold across isthmus ...................................................... 3
1b Nape naked; no black spot on 1st 0; gill opening
restricted to P base or extending to under operculum
with membranes attached to sides of isthmus ........................... 2
2a P 17-1S; LS 22-25; tongue bluntly rounded ........ .. ..... P. muscarum
2b P 14-16; LS 24-31; tongue pointed ................................. P. sp. 1
3a Body depth at anus 6.5-7.0 in SL; P 17-19;
TRB 7; (coral reefs) ........................................ P. mossambica
3b Body depth at anus 4.6-5.7 in SL; P 19-20;
TRB 9; (trawled 14-70 m) .......................... ......... P. annandalei
240.80 Pleurosicya annandalei
Hornell & Fowler, 1922
Scaly nape goby
Skubkop-dikkop
Pleurosicya annandalei Hornell & Fowler, 1922: 924 (Tuticorin, India);
Larson & Haese, 19S0: 36*.
240.80 Pleurosicya annandalei: 2.5 em male (after Larson & Hoese, 1980).
800
o VI + I,S-9; A I,S-9; P 19-20; LS 23; TRB 9; PO 9-10; GR 2+5. Lower
Y j of 1st gill arch bound to gill cover by membrane. Tongue blunt to concave.
Attains 3 cm. Known only from dredges from 14 - 70 m.
Found on gorgonians. Sodwana Bay, northern Indian
Ocean and New Guinea.
240.81 Pleurosicya mossambica
Smith, 1959
Toothy goby
Getande-dikkop
Pleurosicya mossambica Smith, 1959: 21S, Fig. 37 (Pinda); Haese &
Winterbottom: 1979: 4.
o VI + I,S; AI,S; P 17-19; LS 23-24; TRB 6-S; GR 2+ 7 (rudimentary).
Lower ~ or less of 1st gill arch bound to gill cover by membrane. Tongue
blunt to rounded. Gill opening extending to below rear Yz of eye. Predorsal
scaled.
Found on soft corals, sponges, Tridacna and broadbladed plants. Attains 3 cm. Sodwana Bay, Mozambique,
Seychelles and tropical Indo-West Pacific.
240.81 Pleurosicya mossambica: 2.5 em holotype (N. Mozambique).
Ghost goby
240.82 Pleurosicya muscarum
(Jordan & Seale, 1906)
Spook-dikkop
Rhinogobius muscarum Jordan & Seale, 1906: 401, Fig. 90 (Samoa).
Pleurosicyops timidus Smith, 1959: 217, Fig. 35 (Pinda). Pleurosicya
timidus: Haese & Winterbottom, 1979: 4.
o VI+I,7-S; A I,7-9; P 17-1S; LS 22-25; TRB 6-7; GR 2+(3-6) (very
rudimentary). Lower ~ to i3 of 1st gill arch bound to gill cover by membrane. Predorsal naked.
Found on soft corals. Attains 2.2 cm. Mozambique,
Seychelles, Chagos Archipelago and tropical Pacific.
240.82 Pleurosicya muscarum: 2 em holotype of P. timidus (N. Mozambique).