Coryogalops ocheticus ( Norman, 1927 )

Kovačić, Marcelo, Renoult, Julien P., Pillon, Roberto, Svensen, Rudolf, Bogorodsky, Sergey V., Engin, Semih & Louisy, Patrick, 2022, Identification of Mediterranean marine gobies (Actinopterygii: Gobiidae) of the continental shelf from photographs of in situ individuals, Zootaxa 5144 (1), pp. 1-103 : 46-47

Coryogalops ocheticus ( Norman, 1927) ( Fig. 50 )—Canal Goby

Gobius ocheticus Norman, 1927: 381 ; type locality: Egypt, Suez Canal .

Size. Reaches 7 cm total length.

Morphology. D VI + I,10–11; A I,9–10; P 16–18, the uppermost 2 rays free of membrane. Body moderately elongate, the depth 4.3–5.5 in standard length. Head subcylindrical, with a short rounded snout. The second spine of first dorsal fin longest, with very short filament in males. Caudal peduncle deep, but lower than body depth. Pelvic fins united to form a disc. Caudal fin rounded, shorter than head. Scales ctenoid to below origin of first dorsal fin, cycloid ventrally on abdomen, no scales on head, chest, predorsal and prepectoral areas. Scales visible on dead specimens by reticulate pattern of pigmentation along scale edges, visibility on live specimens unknown.

Fresh coloration. Greenish or brownish gray, scale edges dark brown, scales on lower body outlined with orange ( Fig. 50 ); a series of indistinct light brown blotches along back, the first on nape, ending at origin of first dorsal fin; side of body with a series of 7 indistinct blackish blotches; head with three blackish spots or double spots below eye, side of head with irregular small orange spots; first dorsal fin with 2 or 3 curved oblique crossbands; pectoral fins with 2 blackish spots at base; pelvic fins blackish (visible also on Fig. 50 ).

Similar species. Millerigobius macrocephalus , Zebrus zebrus , Zebrus pallaoroi .

Habitat. Inhabits shallow water, isolated hard substrate but found occasionally on sand bottom ( Goren 1985).

Geographic distribution. Reported from the Red Sea: Egypt (Suez Canal, Gulf of Suez, and Ras Muhammad), Saudi Arabia (Ras Hatiba) and Eritrea (Dahlak Archipelago). A single record in the Mediterranean Sea from Port Said, Egypt ( Norman 1927), one specimen was collected from the Bardawil lagoon, Egypt ( Kovačić & Golani 2007b).

Figures

FIGURE 50. Freshly dead coloration of Coryogalops ocheticus. Photo by S.V. Bogorodsky, Gulf of Suez, Egypt, Red Sea.