Buenia massutii Kovačić, Ordines & Schliewen, 2017

Kovačić, Marcelo, Ordines, Frances & Schliewen, Ulrich K., 2017, A new species of Buenia (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from the western Mediterranean Sea, with the description of this genus, Zootaxa 4250 (5), pp. 447-460 : 450-456

Buenia massutii Kovačić, Ordines & Schliewen , sp. nov.

( Figs. 2–4 ; Tables 1 , 2 )

Holotype. PMR VP3762, male, 22.0 + 5.1 mm, Spain, Balearic Islands, Mallorca , 39°51.11’N, 003°28.26’E, red algae beds, 67 m depth, coll. Ordines & Kovačić, IEO- COB, 10 June 2016 ( Fig. 2 a).

Paratypes. PMR VP3763, female, 20.5 + 4.4 mm, Spain, Balearic Islands, Mallorca , 39°13.92’N, 002°58.98’E, red algae beds, 57 m depth, coll. Ordines & Kovačić, IEO- COB, 8 June 2016 ( Fig. 3 ) ; ZSM 45297, female; 21.4 + 4.8 mm, Spain, Balearic Islands, Mallorca , 39°51.11’N, 003°28.26’E, red algae beds, 67 m depth, coll. Ordines & Kovačić, IEO- COB, 10 June 2016 ; ZSM 45298, male, 19.4 + 4.4 mm, Spain, Balearic Islands, Mallorca , 39°51.11’N, 003°28.26’E, red algae beds, 67 m depth, coll. Ordines & Kovačić, IEO- COB, 10 June 2016 ; PMR VP3764, male, 20.8 + 5.0 mm, Spain, Balearic Islands, Mallorca , 39°51.11’N, 003°28.26’E, red algae beds, 67 m depth, coll. Ordines & Kovačić, IEO- COB, 10 June 2016 ( Figs 2 b and 4) ; PMR VP3765, male, 20.5 + 4.6 mm, Spain, Balearic Islands, Mallorca , 39°51.11’N, 003°28.26’E, red algae beds, 67 m depth, coll. Ordines & Kovačić, IEO- COB, 10 June 2016 .

Non-type material (for osteology and molecular genetics). ZSM- PIS- GO 1357–1359, 16.5– 18.2 mm SL, sex and TL not determinable due to damage, Spain, Balearic Islands, Mallorca , 39°13.92’N, 002°58.98’E, red algae beds, 57 m depth, coll. IEO- COB, 8 June 2016 ; ZSM- PIS- GO 1307-1310, one male, two females, one undetermined, 10.6 + 1.6–19.9 + 3.8 mm, Spain, Balearic Islands, Mallorca , 39°51.11’N, 003°28.26’E, red algae beds, 67 m depth, coll. IEO- COB, 10 June 2016 ; ZSM- PIS- GO 1377-1378, one male, one female, 18.5 + 3.3 and 16.2 mm SL (caudal fin damaged), Spain, Balearic Islands, Mallorca , 39°58.90’N, 003°39.39’E, red algae beds, 64 m depth, coll. IEO-COB, 15 June 2016 ; ZSM- PIS- GO 1370-1372, two males, one female 17.4 + 3.7–19.9 mm SL (caudal fin in largest specimen damaged), Spain, Balearic Islands, Mallorca , 39°55.23’N, 002°54.95’E, red algae beds, 70 m depth, coll. IEO-COB, 17 June 2016 ; ZSM- PIS- GO 1323-1326, four females, 16.2 SL (caudal fin in smallest specimen damaged)–19.8 + 4.2 mm, Spain, Balearic Islands, Mallorca , 39°50.83’N, 002°44.29’E, red algae beds, 65 m depth, coll. IEO- COB, 17 June 2016 ; ZSM- PIS- GO 1100-1109, six males, two females, two undetermined sex, 18.0 + 3.6–21.4 + 4.0 mm Spain, Balearic Islands, Mallorca , 39°14.23'N, 002°58.66’E, red algae beds, 67 m depth, coll. IEO- COB, 8 September 2014 ; ZSM- PIS- GO1063, sex undetermined, 19.7 + 4.2 mm (badly damaged), Spain, Balearic Islands, Mallorca , 39°18.97’N, 002°49.32’E, red algae beds, 47 m depth, coll. IEO- COB, 6 September 2014 ; ZSM- PIS- GO-1312, male, 19.4 + 4.0 mm, Spain, Balearic Islands, Mallorca , 39°51.11’N, 004°28.26'E, red algae beds, 70 m depth, coll. IEO- COB, 10 June 2016 ; ZSM- PIS- GO-1316, female, 20.1 + 4.2 mm, Spain, Balearic Islands, Mallorca , 39°51.11’N, 004°28.26'E, red algae beds, 70 m depth, coll. IEO- COB, 10 June 2016 ; ZSM- PIS- GO- 1336-37, two females, 20.0 + 4.0 and 22.2 mm SL (caudal fin damaged), Spain, Balearic Islands, Mallorca , 39°50.83'N, 002°44.29'E, red algae beds, 65 m depth, coll. IEO- COB, 17 June 2016 ; ZSM- PIS- GO-1361, male, 18.2 + 3.1 mm, Spain, Balearic Islands, Mallorca , 39°13.92'N, 002°58.98'E, red algae beds, 57 m depth, coll. IEO-COB, 8 June 2016 ; ZSM- PIS- GO-1366, female, 18.6 mm SL (caudal fin damaged), Spain, Balearic Islands, Mallorca , 39°13.92'N, 002°58.98'E, red algae beds, 57 m depth, coll. IEO- COB, 8 June 2016 ; ZSM- PIS- GO-1369, male, 20.9 + 3.5mm, Spain, Balearic Islands, Mallorca , 39°13.92'N, 002°58.98'E, red algae beds, 57 m depth, coll. IEO- COB, 8 June 2016 ; ZSM- PIS- GO-1375, male, 19.8+ 4.1 mm, Spain, Balearic Islands, Mallorca , 39°55.23'N, 002°54.95'E red algae beds, 70 m depth, coll. IEO-COB, 17 June 2016 ; ZSM- PIS- GO-1383, female, 19.4 mm (caudal fin damaged), Spain, Balearic Islands, Mallorca , 39°58.90'N, 003°39.39'E, red algae beds, 64 m depth, coll. IEO- COB, 15 June 2016 ; ZSM- PIS- GO-1385 female, 18.5 + 3.4 mm, Spain, Balearic Islands, Mallorca , 39°58.90'N, 003°39.39'E, red algae beds, 64 m depth, coll. IEO- COB, 15 June 2016 .

Diagnosis. (1) anterior oculoscapular canal semi-closed with pores σ, λ, Κ, ω, α, ρ and additional pores and open furrows from interorbital part to pore ρ; (2) posterior oculoscapular canal absent; (3) suborbital row c of 5 papillae; (4) LL 26–28; (5) P 16; (6) the second spine of D1, as the longest spine, reaching to or behind posterior end of D 2 in males when folded down, in females not reaching D 2 I; (7) V anterior membrane 1/6 or less length of spinous ray in midline depth; (8) head length 31.2–32.5% of SL; (9) eye 32.8–35.7% of head length; (10) caudal fin length 21.5–24.0% of SL.

Description. General morphology ( Figs 2 and 3 ). Body proportions are given in Table 1 . Body moderately elongate, laterally compressed towards caudal fin. Head fairly long, 31.2–32.5% of SL, slightly depressed, with a nearly horizontal predorsal profile. Snout moderately short and pointed, shorter than eye, 78.3–93.8% in eye length, dorsal profile of snout gently sloping. Eyes dorsolateral, extending above dorsal profile, large, about ⅓ of head length, interorbital space narrow, ¼ or less of eye diameter. Anterior nostril short, tubular, erect, without process from rim; posterior nostril pore-like, near orbit, with erected rim. Mouth oblique, posterior angle of jaws below mid-eye. Rows of pointed teeth in both jaws with one row of large outer teeth, one to two intermediate rows of smaller teeth and inner row with teeth nearly as long as the outer ones. Teeth in outer and inner rows pointed and moderately curved towards the buccal cavity. Tongue truncated. Chin without fold or barbels. Cranial roof covered by dorsal axial musculature. Branchiostegal membrane attached to entire lateral margin of isthmus from immediately anterior to near pectoral fin base. Pectoral girdle without flaps on anterior edge.

Fins. D 1 VI (VI: 6); D2 I/7 (7: 6); A I/6-7 (6: 5, 7: 1); C 11-13 branched rays (11: 1, 12: 2, 13: 3), 14–15 segmented rays (14: 1, 15: 5); P 16 (16: 12, left and right side), V I/5 + 5/I (I/5 + 5/I: 6). Fin-bases and lengths in proportion to SL are given in Table 1 . D 1 II, the longest spine of D1, very long, when folded reaching back to or behind D2 posterior end in males, in females not reaching D 2 I. All D1 spines longer in males than in females ( Table 1 ). Fin membrane of D 1 VI not connected with base of D 2 I. D2 commences between vertical of anus to vertical of urogenital papilla, with last ray over vertical of last A ray. A commences below second segmented ray of D2. C rounded, shorter than head length. P uppermost rays within membrane, P rays all branched except uppermost and lowermost rays, ending back before but nearly vertical of D2 spine. V complete and oval, reaching behind anus, to A spine in some specimens, V anterior membrane 1/6 or less length of spinous ray in midline depth.

......continued on the next page Squamation. Body covered with ctenoid scales. In the specimens with missing scales counts were made on scale pouches visible by staining. Predorsal area, including nape, opercle and cheek naked. Breast scaled with cycloid scales, scales along ventral midline 5–8 (5:1, 6:4, 8:1). Scales in lateral series 26–28 (left and right side: 26:5, 27:5, 28:2), in transverse series 5–6 (left and right side: 5:6, 6:6).

Lateral line system ( Fig. 4 ). Head with anterior oculoscapular canal semiclosed with pores σ, λ, Κ, ω, α, ρ and with additional pores or open furrows from interorbital part to pore ρ. Pores σ, λ, Κ are always present as welldefined pores, while ω, α, ρ are in some specimens replaced by open furrow. Posterior oculoscapular canal absent. Preopercular canals with pores γ, δ, ε, which are in some specimens they are replaced by open furrows or additional pores are present between them. All type material was checked for rows and number of sensory papillae, which were counted, but not all parts of the lateral line system were visible on specimens, probably due to the skin lesions. Therefore, the lowest counts of sensory papillae in the range for some rows could be the result of nonvisible or missing papillae due to damage. Lateral line system was best visible in paratype PMR VP3764, male, 20.8+5.0 mm, Fig. 4 , but even this specimen lacked anterior dorsal rows. Rows and number of sensory papillae as follows: (1) preorbital: snout with three rows in median preorbital series, superior row r close to pore σ (1), inferior row s with two sections, s 1 (1-2) close to nostrils, s 3 (1-2) above upper lip. Lateral series c in three parts: superior c 2 (1-2) between anterior and posterior nostrils, middle c 1 (1) behind and bellow anterior nostril and inferior c 1,2 (2) above upper lip. (2) suborbital: rows a and c, including cp, without transverse proliferation; a as two larger papillae below rear part of eye (2); c (5) below frontal and middle part of eye, starting anteriorly with two papillae superimposed each other at or slightly behind vertical of front border of eye, posteriorly ending before vertical of a row. Two cp as larger papillae bellow a row, cp’ approximately below cp. Longitudinal row b short (3–4), anteriorly beginning below rear border of eye. Longitudinal row d distantly separated in supralabial (4–10) and horizontal part back on cheek (3–4). (3) preoperculo-mandibular: external row e and internal row i divided into anterior (e: 14–19, i: 6–11), and posterior sections (e: 13–16, i: 10–12); row f, if visible, single papilla. (4) oculoscapular: anterior longitudinal row x 1 divided in anterior section (3–4) vertical to pore γ and posterior section (2) above row q, posterior longitudinal row x 2 (2) above posterior part of opercle; row z (2–3) behind pore γ, row q (1) behind pore ρ, row y, if visible, single papilla above posterior edge of opercle. Axillary rows as 1 (2–3), as 2 (2–3), as 3 (1–2), la 1 (1) and la 2 (1) present. Rows la 1 and la 2 not visible in most of the material, probably due to the damaged predorsal surface. (5) opercular: transverse row ot (9–10); superior longitudinal row os (3–4); inferior longitudinal row oi (2–4). (6) anterior dorsal: rows n, g, o and m not visible, possibly due to the damaged predorsal surface and row h (4–6) not visible in part of the material.

Colour. Colour of freshly collected material ( Figs. 2 b and 3a). No distinct sexual dichromatism is evident. Head and body yellowish white to dusky white with scattered yellow, orange and dark brown pigments. Predorsal area dusky whitish with scattered melanophores and small patches of orange, 2–3 orange marks around lower half of eye edge, belt of dark brown dots extending downwards from eye to behind posterior end of mouth, opercle and preopercle with rare dark brown dots and with orange mark in the upper posterior end of opercle. Underside of head and prepelvic area whitish. Eyes green golden to brass, with dark green to black pupil. Melanophores on body present mostly along lateral midline forming four short, vertical midline stripes and fifth longer vertical mark as margin between caudal peduncle and fin. Yellow pigments present more along lateral midline, in some specimens shaped in 2 or 3 pale vertical yellow stripes in each area between dark stripes. The orange pigment mostly follows the scale margins on upper parts of body, to some degree mixed with melanophores. Four grey saddles sometimes visible on dorsum, the first over D1 beginning, the second over D2 beginning, the third over the end of D2 and the fourth at posterior part of caudal peduncle. Ventral side, including belly, whitish. Silvery peritoneum visible below skin on belly. Caudal peduncle posterior margin as dark brown vertical stripe or narrow triangular pointed anteriorly. Fins mostly transparent and partially pigmented yellowish, dark brown or orange. D1 and D2 dark and orange pigmented at fin base and sometimes with few scattered melanophores in the upper part of the fins. C with few small yellow orange dots scattered over the fin. A yellowish transparent with scattered small melanophores giving greyish appearance. P yellowish transparent with or without very few melanophores. V base whitish, the rest of fin with scattered melanophores.

Colour of preserved specimens in alcohol ( Figs. 2 a and 3b). Colours became paler after fixation, therefore the final colour of preserved specimens is very pale yellow to white brown (buff to tan), with dark brown markings, and with a pattern similar to freshly collected specimens. No distinct sexual dimorphism evident. Predorsal area with scattered melanophores. Scattered melanophores present on cheek behind posterior end of mouth, on opercle and preopercle. Area between upper lip and eye and snout poorly pigmented or unpigmented. Underside of head and prepelvic area whitish. Eyes dark golden to brass, with dark green to dark grey pupil. Melanophores on body forming four short vertical stripes at lateral midline and fifth longer mark as margin between caudal peduncle and C. They are also present to some degree along the scale margins at upper parts of body. Melanophores very rarely present elsewhere on the body. Ventral side, including belly whitish. Caudal peduncle posterior margin with melanophores shaping vertical stripe or narrow triangular pointed anteriorly. Fins mostly transparent, sometimes with few dark brown dots. D1 and D2 with few scattered melanophores without recognizable pattern among specimens. C almost without pigment. A with scattered melanophores mostly as row along fin base. P very rarely pigmented. V more pigmented, with scattered melanophores, in both sexes.

Vertebral column and pterygiophore insertion pattern (pty): 11 precaudal and 16 to 17 caudal vertebrae, including urostyle; total count 27–28. One epural (presence not always clearly discernable on x-rays); pty 3- 122100; two prehaemal pterygiophores. Total number of caudal fin rays inserting in the hypurals 5, 3 + 4 (fused), hypural 2 + 3 (fused) and hypural 1 (parhypural): 13 or 14 (compare with Fig. 5 ).

Etymology. The species is named massutii after Dr. Enric Massutí, researcher of the Instituto Español de Oceanografía in the Centre Oceanogràfic de les Balears, in recognition for his dedication to the study of the benthic habitats in the circalittoral bottoms of the Balearic Islands.

Ecological and geographical distribution. The studied individuals of B. massutii sp. nov. were caught at seven sampling stations ( Fig. 1 ) located on red algae beds. These beds predominate in the circalittoral coarse sand bottoms from around 50 m to almost 80 m depth and mainly consist of two type habitats, the Peyssonnelia beds, mainly located in the south west of Mallorca and south Menorca, and the maërl beds, mainly located in the Menorca Channel area ( Ballesteros 1994, Ordines & Massutí, 2009, Barbera et al., 2012). The habitats where the individuals were caught, located at the south of Mallorca, and in north Mallorca and the Menorca Channel presented typical Peyssonnelia (with predominance of Peyssonneliaceae red algae) and maërl (with predominance of coralline red algae) beds, respectively. Both, Peyssonnelia and maërl beds, enhance the 3D structural complexity of the sandy bottoms in the Balearic Islands, providing more shelter and feeding opportunities due to the higher abundance of invertebrates compared to bare sandy bottoms ( Ordines & Massutí, 2009, Ordines et al., 2011). Radiographed specimens ZSM- PIS- GO-1312 ( Fig. 5 ), ZSM- PIS- GO-1316, ZSM- PIS- GO-13136 and ZSM- PIS- GO-1337 contained as visible stomach contents uncrushed molluscs (bivalves and snails) up to 1/8 of the SL (see Fig. 5 : specimen PIS- GO-1312).

Remarks. At present the genus Buenia includes three species: B. massutii sp. nov., B jeffreysii and B affinis . B. massutii sp. nov. differ in various characters from B jeffreysii and B affinis (based on comparative material, Miller (1963, 1986), Kovačić (2002), Kovačić & Patzner (2009)). B. massutii sp. nov. can be distinguished from B. jeffreysii by the following characters: anterior oculoscapular canal semiclosed with pores σ, λ, Κ, ω, α, ρ and additional pores and open furrows from interorbital part to pore ρ vs. anterior oculoscapular canal closed with pores σ, λ, Κ, α, ρ in B. jeffreysii ; posterior oculoscapular canal absent vs. posterior oculoscapular canal present in B. jeffreysii ; suborbital row c of 5 papillae vs. suborbital row c of 7–8 papillae in B. jeffreysii ; pectoral fin rays 16 vs. 17–18 in B. jeffreysii ; anal fin rays I/7–8 vs. I/ 9 in B. jeffreysii ; precaudal vertebrae 11 vs. 12 in B. jeffreysii ; caudal vertebrae 16–17 vs. 18 in B. jeffreysii ; total vertebrae 27–28 vs. 30 in B. jeffreysii ; the second spine of the first dorsal fin in males backwards reaching to or behind second dorsal fin posterior end when folded down vs. the second spine of the first dorsal fin in males backwards ends at second dorsal fin anterior end; eye diameter 32.8% or more of head length vs. eye diameter 30.7% or less of head length in B. jeffreysii . B. massutii sp. nov. differs also from B. affinis by the following: anterior oculoscapular canal semiclosed with pores σ, λ, Κ, ω, α, ρ and additional pores and open furrows from interorbital part to pore ρ vs. anterior oculoscapular canal closed with pores σ, λ, Κ, ω, α, ρ in B. affinis ; posterior oculoscapular canal absent vs. posterior oculoscapular canal present in B. affinis ; the second spine of the first dorsal fin elongated in males, backwards reaching to or behind second dorsal fin posterior end when folded down vs. the second spine of the first dorsal fin not extended in B. affinis ; pelvic fin anterior membrane 1/6 or less length of spinous ray in midline depth vs. pelvic fin anterior membrane ⅓–½ length of spinous ray in midline depth in B. affinis ; head length 31.2–32.5% of standard length vs. head length 27.5–30.7% of standard length in B. affinis ; eye diameter 32.8–35.7% of head length vs. eye diameter 23.3–30.1% of head length in B. affinis ; caudal fin length 21.5–24.0% of standard length vs. caudal fin length 16.5–20.5% of standard length in B. affinis .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Map showing the sampling stations where the studied individuals of B. massutii sp. nov. were collected. The 50, 100, 200 and 500 m isobaths are shown.

FIGURE 2. Buenia massutii sp. nov. A: holotype: PMR VP 3762, male, 22.0 + 5.1 mm mm, Spain, Balearic Islands, Mallorca, preserved specimen. B: paratype, PMR VP 3764, male, 20.8 + 5.0 mm, Spain, Balearic Islands, Mallorca, freshly collected specimen. Photos by M. Kovačić.

FIGURE 3. Buenia massutii sp. nov. Paratype: PMR VP 3763, female, 20.5 + 4.4 mm, Spain, Balearic Islands, Mallorca. A: freshly collected specimen; B: preserved specimen. Photos by M. Kovačić.

FIGURE 4. Buenia massutii sp. nov., head lateral line sensory papillae and canal pores: paratype, PMR VP 3764, male, 20.8 + 5.0 mm, Spain, Balearic Islands, Mallorca. Terminology in text. Drawing by M. Kovačić.

FIGURE 5. Buenia massutii sp. nov., X-ray of specimen ZSM-PIS-GO- 1312 male, 19.4 + 4.0 mm, Spain, Balearic Islands, Mallorca. Note two uncrushed bivalves and one small gastropod as stomach content. X-ray by U. Schliewen.

Tables

TABLE 1. Morphometric characters (as proportional measurements in %) of Buenia massutii sp. nov. Characters are given in alphabetical order.

Specimen	PMR VP3762 holotype	ZSM 45298 paratype	PMR VP3764 paratype	PMR VP3765 paratype	PMR VP3763 paratype	ZSM 45297 paratype
sex	male	male	male	male	female	female
Standard length (SL) in mm	22	19.4	20.8	20.5	20.5	21.4
% of standard length
1st spine length of first dorsal fin	18.9	18.5	16.2	18.2	14.6	14.7
2nd spine length of first dorsal fin	33.7	32.9	36.1	38.9	15.1	15.2
3rd spine length of first dorsal fin	17.0	14.4	16.4	19.6	11.7	12.3
4th spine length of first dorsal fin	14.5	12.6	13.9	13.2	11.0	11.1
5th spine length of first dorsal fin	11.6	10.2	11.1	9.5	9.3	7.9
6th spine length of first dorsal fin	8.6	7.9	8.2	7.8	5.4	6.1
Anal fin base	13.5	14.5	15.0	15.6	12.2	13.2
Anal fin spine length	10.8	8.7	10.7	10.1	9.4	8.8
Body depth at anal fin origin	13.2	12.0	12.1	12.2	11.6	11.6
Body depth at pelvic fin origin	15.6	14.8	16.8	15.5	16.9	15.9
Body width at anal fin origin	10.9	11.1	10.9	11.8	11.7	10.6
Body width at pelvic fin origin	14.5	14.4	14.2	13.2	14.9	15.8
Caudal fin length	23.2	22.7	24.0	22.4	21.5	22.4
Caudal peduncle depth	7.9	8.5	8.2	8.8	7.8	7.5
Caudal peduncle length	28.7	27.6	28.5	27.5	27.3	28.7
Caudal peduncle width	9.9	9.3	9.1	9.8	9.4	10.3
First dorsal fin base	10.8	10.6	11.5	10.7	10.7	11.0
Head length	31.8	32.3	32.5	31.2	31.4	32.2