Aldemaro Romero

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Up ] Caecogobius cryptophthalmus ] Glossogobius ankaranensis ] Luciogobius albus ] Luciogobius pallidus ]

 

Family: Gobiidae

 

This is a very large family (possibly >2000 spp.) of mostly marine and brackish species. Mostly of small size, they tend to be cryptic bottom dwelling carnivores feeding on small benthic invertebrates. Very common in fresh waters on oceanic islands (Nelson 1994). Thus, it is not surprising that all four hypogean species described thus far are from islands: two from Japan, one from the Philippines and one from Madagascar.

The two species of Luciogobius seem to be valid based on the differences in their meristic, non-troglomorphic differences and allopatry; both of them most probably descended from Luciogobius guttatus. The third species also seems to be valid: the monotypic genus Caecogobius does not appear to be related to any other extant species. More information is needed regarding the fourth, Glossogobius ankaranensis, given the fact that it has been found syntopically with the congeneric Glossogobius callidus.

 
  1. Caecogobius cryptophthalmus Berti & Ercolini, 1991
  2. Glossogobius ankaranensis Banister, 1994
  3. Luciogobius albus Regan, 1940
  4. Luciogobius pallidus Regan, 1940