Gobiidae

Kovačić, Marcelo, 2020, Checklist of gobies (Teleostei: Gobiidae) of the Mediterranean Sea and a key for species identification, Zootaxa 4877 (1), pp. 75-101 : 82-85

Key to the species of Gobiidae of the Mediterranean Sea

Key is limited to adult and juveniles with scales already formed, having a lateral line system with enclosed head canals and sensory pores and papillae present. This key will not work with postlarvae and early juveniles with these characters undeveloped or in some early juveniles under development. The alien species marked with *.

1a Head canals with additional pore σ¹ on snout ( Fig. 6 )............................................................. 2

1b Head canals without pore σ¹ on snout..........................................................................3

2a (1) Longitudinal scale count 75–80 ( Fig. 2 )..................................................... Oxyurichthys petersi *

2b (1) Longitudinal scale count 51–56 ( Fig. 2 )............................................... Tridentiger trigonocephalus *

3a (1) Single, dorsal fin, dorsal and anal fins confluent with caudal fin ( Fig. 7 )............................ Trypauchen vagina *

3b (1) Two dorsal fins, if the first fin reduced, the second fin and anal fin clearly distinct from caudal fin...................... 4

4a (3) First dorsal fin with 3 or fewer spines, or absent ( Fig.8 )...................................... Crystallogobius linearis

4b (3) First dorsal fin with 4 or more spines......................................................................5.

5a (4) Suborbital sensory papillae with row a below eye present ( Fig. 1b )............................................... 6

5b (4) Suborbital sensory papillae without row a below eye ( Fig. 9 )................................................... 38

6a (5) Pelvic disc without anterior transverse membrane (frenum) ( Fig. 5 )............................................... 7

6b (5) Pelvic disc with anterior transverse membrane ( Fig. 5 )........................................................ 10

7a (6) Head canals and pores absent ( Fig. 10d ).................................................................... 8

7b (6) Head canals and pores present ( Fig. 10 a-c)...................................................................9

8a (7) Snout length slightly greater than eye diameter, type specimens snout length 1.05 and 1.06 in eye diameter ( Fig. 11a )............................................................................................... Lebetus patzneri

8b (7) Snout length clearly less than eye diameter, snouth length about 3/4 of eye diameter ( Fig. 11b ).............. Lebetus guilleti

9a (7) Preopercular head canal present ( Fig. 10b )................................................... .. Speleogobius llorisi

9b (7) Preopercular head canal absent ( Fig. 10c ).................................................. Speleogobius trigloides

10a (6) Head canals and pores absent ( Fig. 10d ).................................................................. 11

10b (6) Head canals and pores present ( Fig. 10 a-c)................................................................ 14

11a (10) Suborbital transverse rows of sensory papillae present ( Fig. 1b )....................................... Aphia minuta

11b (10) Suborbital transverse rows of sensory papillae absent, suborbital rows only longitudinal ( Fig. 12 ).....................12

12a (11) Predorsal area naked ( Fig. 3 )........................................................... Lesueurigobius suerii

12b (11) Predorsal area scaled ( Fig. 3 ).......................................................................... 13

13a (12) Pectoral fin always 22.............................................................. .. Lesueurigobius sanzoi

13b (12) Pectoral fin 18–19................................................................... Lesueurigobius friesii

14a (10) Head canals with numerous extra pores ( Fig. 13 ).......................................................... 15

14b (10) Head canals with usual number (22 or fewer) of pores ( Fig. 10 )................................................16

15a (14) Second dorsal-fin I,8–9; anal-fin I,9.............................................. Deltentosteus quadrimaculatus

15b (14) Second dorsal-fin I,10–11; anal-fin I,10.............................................. Deltentosteus collonianus

16a (15) Anterior oculoscapular head canal with pore α large, elongate, slit like, extending posteriorly from the posteroventral margin of the eye ( Fig. 14 ).................................................................... Aulopareia unicolor *

16b (15) Anterior oculoscapular head canal with pore α rounded or oval............................................... 17

17a (14) Suborbital transverse rows a and c with multiple irregular transversal proliferations ( Fig. 15 )................................................................................................... .. Papillogobius melanobranchus *

17b (14) Suborbital transverse rows a and c single longitudinal rows or with regular transversal rows ( Figs. 1b and 16 ).......... 18

18a (17) Suborbital transverse rows of sensory papillae absent, suborbital rows only longitudinal ( Figs. 16 and 17 )............. 19

18b (17) Suborbital transverse rows of sensory papillae present ( Fig. 1b ).............................................. 23

19a (18) Second dorsal-fin I,15–16; anal-fin I,16–17............................................. Vanderhorstia mertensi *

19b (18) Second dorsal-fin I,7–11; anal-fin I,6–12................................................................ 20

20b (19) Suborbital sensory papillae row b ends anteriorly below anterior edge of eye ( Fig. 17 ).............. Silhouettea aegyptia *

20a (19) Suborbital sensory papillae row b ends anteriorly behind vertical to posterior edge of pupil ( Fig. 16 )................. 21

21a (20) Height of anterior membrane (frenum) of pelvic fin in midline 1/3–1/2 of length of pelvic spine ( Fig. 5 )..... Buenia affinis

21b (20) Height of anterior membrane (frenum) of pelvic fin in midline 1/6 length of spine ( Fig. 5 )......................... 22

22a (21) Pectoral fin 16........................................................................... Buenia massutii

22b (21) Pectoral fin 18......................................................................... Buenia lombartei

23a (18) Anterior oculoscapular head canal ends in interorbit with paired pore λ ( Fig. 18 )................................. 24

23b (18) Anterior oculoscapular head canal extends on snout, to paired pore σ, pora λ single ( Fig. 10 a-c)..................... 26

24a (23) Longitudinal scale count 30 ( Fig. 2 )........................................................ Pseudaphya ferreri

24b (23) Longitudinal scale count>30 ( Fig. 2 )................................................................... 25

25a (24) Height of anterior membrane (frenum) of pelvic fin in midline 2/3–3/4 of spine ( Fig. 5 )......... Knipowitschia caucasica

25b (24) Height of anterior membrane (frenum) of pelvic fin in midline 1/2 length of spine ( Fig. 5 )........ Knipowitschia panizzae

26a (23) Cheek and opercle scaled ( Fig. 3 )........................................................ .. Hazeus ingressus *

26b (23) Cheek and opercle naked ( Fig. 3 )....................................................................... 27

27a (26) Suborbital sensory papillae row a without transversal rows or with only one or two transversal rows ( Fig. 1b )...........28

27b (26) Suborbital sensory papillae row a with several to many transversal rows ( Fig. 19 ).................................36

28a (27) Second dorsal fin base naked at least along first three rays ( Fig. 3 )........................... Ninnigobius canestrinii

28b (27) The second dorsal fin base completely scaled ( Fig. 3 )....................................................... 29

29a (28) Fewer than four suborbital transverse rows c of sensory papillae having four or more papillae in the row ( Fig. 1b )...30

29b (28) Four or more suborbital transverse rows c of sensory papillae having four or more papillae in the row ( Fig. 1b )…34

30a (29) Pectoral fin 14–16.....................................................................................31

30b (29) Pectoral fin 17–20.................................................................................... 33

31a (30) Pore ω of anterior oculoscapular head canal present ( Fig. 1a )................................ Pomatoschistus quagga

31b (30) Pore ω of anterior oculoscapular head canal absent ( Fig. 1a )................................................... 32

32a (31) Pore δ of anterior oculoscapular head canal present ( Fig. 1a )…................................ Pomatoschistus bathi

32b (31) Pore δ of anterior oculoscapular head canal absent ( Fig. 1a )…................................ Pomatoschistus nanus

33a (30) Longitudinal scale count 30–36 ( Fig. 2 ).............................................. .. Pomatoschistus tortonesei

33b (30) Longitudinal scale count 38–46 ( Fig. 2 )................................................. Pomatoschistus knerii

34a (29) The first dorsal fin base naked posteriorly to the last spine ( Fig. 3 )…......................... Pomatoschistus microps

34b (29) The first dorsal fin base scaled at least in part ( Fig. 3 )….................................................... 35

35a (34) The first dorsal fin base scaled backwards to the last spine ( Fig. 3 ), rear edge of plevic fin anterior membrane (frenum) crenate to villose...................................................................... Pomatoschistus marmoratus

35b (34) The first dorsal fin base scaled to spine III–IV ( Fig. 3 ), rear edge of pelvic fin anterior membrane (frenum) smooth....................................................................................... Pomatoschistus adriaticus

36a (27) Longitudinal scale count 32–37 ( Fig. 2 )................................................. Pomatoschistus anatoliae

36b (27) Longitudinal scale count 55–75 ( Fig. 2 )................................................................... 37

37a (36) Suborbital sensory papillae row b ends anteriorly below anterior part of eye, only most posterior suborbital transverse row c extending below row d ( Fig. 1b )…..................................................... Pomatoschistus minutus

37b (36) Suborbital sensory papillae row b ends anteriorly below posterior part of eye, three suborbital transverse rows, including most posterior row c extending below row d ( Fig. 1b )........................................ Pomatoschistus norvegicus

38a (5) Head laterally compressed, eye extends high above the dorsal profile from lateral view ( Fig. 20 )............................................................................................... Cryptocentrus caeruleopunctatus *

38b (5) Head not laterally compressed, eye within dorsal profile or eye slightly extends above the profile from lateral view....... 39

39a (38) All three head canals present ( Fig. 10a ).................................................................. 40

39b (38) At least one of three head canals absent ( Fig. 10b and c )..................................................... 61

40a (39) Anterior dorsal row g of sensory papillae ends anterior to lateral end of row o ( Fig. 21 )............................ 41

40b (39) Anterior dorsal row g of sensory papillae ends behind or on lateral end of row o ( Fig. 1b ).......................... 42

41a (40) Longitudinal scale count 27–31 ( Fig. 2 )................................................. Thorogobius macrolepis

41b (40) Longitudinal scale count 33–42 ( Fig. 2 )................................................ Thorogobius ephippiatus

42a (40) Seven suborbital transverse rows c of sensory papillae ( Fig. 1b )............................................... 43

42b (40) Six suborbital transverse row c of sensory papillae ( Fig. 1b )................................................... 46

43a (41) Predorsal area naked ( Fig. 3 )…........................................................................ 44

43b (41) Predorsal area scaled ( Fig. 3 )…........................................................................ 45

44a (43) Two suborbital transverse rows below row b ( Fig. 1b )............................................. Zebrus zebrus

44b (43) Single suborbital transverse row below row b ( Fig. 1b ).................................... Coryogalops ocheticus *

45a (43) First dorsal fin without large black spot in posterior part..................................... Gobius ophiocephalus

45b (43) First dorsal fin with large black spot in posterior part ( Fig. 22 )............................. Neogobius melanostomus

46a (42) Anterior oculoscapular head canal with short side branch to pore α below eye ( Fig. 23 )............................ 47

46b (42) Anterior oculoscapular head canal with pore α at rear of orbit ( Fig. 1a )......................................... 48

47a (46) Longitudinal scale count 50–57 ( Fig. 2 )..................................................... Gobius paganellus

47b (46) Longitudinal scale count 38–40 ( Fig. 2 ).......................................................... Gobius ater

48a (46) Oculoscapular row x¹ of sensory papillae extending forward to, or before, pore β ( Fig. 24 )............ Gobius cruentatus

48b (46) Oculoscapular row x¹ of sensory papillae ending forward behind pore β ........................................ 49

49a (48) Longitudinal scale count ≥50 ( Fig. 2 ).................................................................... 50

49b (48) Longitudinal scale count <50 ( Fig. 2 )................................................................... 54

50a (49) Pelvic disc complete, rounded or truncate i.e. posterior edge straight or convex ( Fig. 4 )............................ 51

50b (49) Pelvic disc emarginate i.e. posterior edge concave ( Fig. 4 )................................................... 53

51a (50) Pelvic disc anterior membrane (frenum) with lateral lobes ( Fig. 5 )................................... Gobius cobitis

51b (50) Pelvic disc anterior membrane (frenum) without lateral lobes ( Fig. 5 ).......................................... 52

52a (51) Two rows of elongated spots present on cheek without dots between them at the middle of the cheek, the lower row starting anteriorly at the angle of mouth and the upper row anteriorly starting at upper lips ( Fig. 25a )............ Gobius bucchichi

52b (51) The spots on cheek are irregularly scattered or, if rows visible, then additional spots or a third row present across the middle of the cheek between the lower row starting anteriorly at the angle of mouth and the upper row that touches ventral margin eye ( Fig. 25b )............................................................................. Gobius incognitus

53a (50) Anterior dorsal row g of sensory papillae ends on lateral end of row o ( Fig. 1b )................... Gobius kolombatovici

53b (50) Anterior dorsal row g of sensory papillae ends behind lateral end of row o ( Fig. 1b )................... Gobius geniporus

54a (49) Predorsal area naked ( Fig. 3 )................................................................. Gobius roulei

54b (49) Predorsal area scaled ( Fig. 3 ).......................................................................... 55

55a (54) Suborbital row d continous ( Fig. 1b )............................................................ Gobius niger

55b (53) Suborbital row d divided ( Fig. 26 )...................................................................... 56

56a (55) Body and head whitish with broad, black longitudinal stripe present even in preserved specimens ( Fig. 27 ).. Gobius vittatus

56b (55) Body and head without broad, black longitudinal stripe..................................................... 57

57a (56) Pelvic disc complete or no more than 1/8 emarginate ( Fig. 4 )................................................. 58

57b (56) Pelvic disc emarginate more than 1/8 ( Fig. 4 )............................................................. 59

58a (57) Pectoral fin 16–17......................................................................... Gobius couchi

58b (57) Pectoral fin 19–21...................................................................... Gobius gasteveni

59a (57) Pelvic disc emarginate more than 1/3 ( Fig. 4 )................................................... Gobius auratus

59b (57) Pelvic disc emarginate less than 1/3 ( Fig. 4 ).............................................................. 60

60a (59) Longitudinal scale count <46 ( Fig. 2 ).......................................................... Gobius fallax

60b (59) Longitudinal scale count>44 ( Fig. 2 ).................................................. Gobius xanthocephalus

61a (39) Preopercular head canal absent ( Fig. 10c )................................................................ 62

61b (39) Preopercular head canal present ( Fig. 10b )............................................................... 64

62a (61) Longitudinal scale count 65–70 ( Fig. 2 ).................................................... Didogobius bentuvii

62b (61) Longitudinal scale count 27–37 ( Fig. 2 )...................................................................63

63a (62) Six suborbital transverse rows c of sensory papillae (the last row near pore α as single papilla) ( Fig. 1b )... Corcyrogobius liechtensteini

63b (62) Seven suborbital transverse rows c of sensory papillae (the last row near pore α as single papilla)( Fig. 1b )... Gammogobius steinitzi

64a (61) Head pores large e.g. pores α, β, ρ larger or about same size as their interspaces ( Fig. 28 )......... .. Gymnesigobius medits

64b (61) Head pores small e.g. pores α, β, ρ clearly smaller than their interspaces........................................ 65

65a (64) Pelvic fins almost completely separated ( Fig. 4 )........................................................... 66

65b (64) Pelvic fins united in pelvic disc ( Fig. 4 ).................................................................. 69

66a (65) Four suborbital transverse rows c of sensory papillae ( Fig. 1b )................................ Hetereleotris vulgaris *

66b (65) Six or seven suborbital transverse rows c of sensory papillae (the last row near pore α as single papilla) ( Fig. 1b .........67

67a (66) Six suborbital transverse rows c of sensory papillae (the last row near pore α as single papilla) ( Fig. 1b )................................................................................................ .. Odondebuenia balearica

67b (66) Seven suborbital transverse rows c of sensory papillae (the last row near pore α as a single papilla) ( Fig. 1b )........... 68

68a (66) Second dorsal-fin I,11; anal-fin I,10..................................................... Vanneaugobius pruvoti

68b (66) Second dorsal-fin I,10; anal-fin I,9.................................................... Vanneaugobius dollfusi

69a (65) Interorbital transverse sensory papillae row p present ( Fig. 29 ).......................... Millerigobius macrocephalus

69b (65) Interorbital transverse sensory papillae row p absent....................................................... 70

70a (69) Six suborbital transverse rows c of sensory papillae (the last row near pore α as single papilla) ( Fig. 1b )............... 71

70b (69) Seven suborbital transverse rows c of sensory papillae ( Fig. 1b )...............................................72

71a (70) Longitudinal scale count 28–31 ( Fig. 2 )................................................. .. Didogobius splechtnai

71b (70) Longitudinal scale count 55–56 ( Fig. 2 ).................................................. Didogobius schlieweni

72a (70) Longitudinal scale count 40–52 ( Fig. 2 )................................................. Chromogobius zebratus

72b (70) Longitudinal scale count 56–72 ( Fig. 2 )............................................ Chromogobius quadrivittatus

Figures

FIGURE 1. The terminology and position of A) head canal with pores and of B) papillae rows of lateral-line system in the present keys. A) Head anterior oculoscapular canal pores σ¹, σ, λ, κ, ω, α, β, ρ; posterior oculoscapular canal pores ρ1, ρ2; preopercular canal pores γ, δ, ε. B) Rows of sensory papillae: preorbital: r, s1, s2, s3, c1, c2, c, c; suborbital: a, b, c (if more 1 2 transversal c rows present: c1, c2, c3, c4, c5, c6 commonly just marked with numbers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7), d; preoperculomandibular: e, i, f; oculoscapular: x1, x2, tra, trp, z, q, y, as1, as2, as3, la 1, la 2; opercular: ot, os, oi; anterior dorsal: n, o, g, m, h; interorbital: p. Drawing by M. Kovačić.

FIGURE 2. The count of scales in lateral series marked as pale stripe. Photo and modifications by M. Kovačić.

FIGURE 3. The squamation characters used in the key with marked areas where the presence of scales should be checked. The example of (a) partially scaled cheek and completely scaled (b) opercle, (c) predorsal area, (d) the base of the first dorsal fin between spine I and spine VI and (e) the base of the second dorsal fin between the first spine and the last ray. Photo and modifications by M. Kovačić.

FIGURE 4. Pelvic fins A) almost completely separated, B) -D) pelvic fins united in pelvic disc. Pelvic disc B) rounded, C) truncate and D) emarginate. Pelvic disc emargination: (a) the shortest branches of fifth branched ray measured from the base of the fifth ray and (b) the longest branches of fourth branched rays measured from the base of the fourth ray, emargination (e) calculated as e=(b-a)/b. Drawing by M. Kovačić.

FIGURE 5. Pelvic disc anterior membrane A) absent, B) and C) present. Pelvic disc anterior membrane B) without lateral lobes and C) with lateral lobes. Absence of anterior membrane in A), presence of anterior membrane in B) and lateral lobe in C) marked with grey arrow. Pelvic disc anterior membrane height (a) in midline and the length of spinous ray (b) in red. Drawing by M. Kovačić.

FIGURE 6. Head canals with additional pore σ¹ on the snout of Oxyurichthys petersi. Drawing by M. Kovačić.

FIGURE 7. Dorsal and anal fins confluent with caudal fin in Trypauchen vagina. Drawing by M. Kovačić..

FIGURE 8. The example of the first dorsal fin with two spines in Crystallogobius linearis. Material stained. Photo by M. Kovačić.

FIGURE 9. Suborbital sensory papillae without row a below eye. Drawing by M. Kovačić.

FIGURE 10. A) Head anterior oculoscapular canal, posterior oculoscapular canal and preopercular canal present; B) Head anterior oculoscapular canal and preopercular canal present, posterior oculoscapular canal absent; C) Head anterior oculoscapular canal present, preopercular canal and posterior oculoscapular canal absent; D) Head canals absent. Drawing by M. Kovačić.

FIGURE 11. A) Snout slightly larger than eye diameter in Lebetus patzneri and B) snout clearly shorter than eye diameter in L. guilleti. Material stained. Photos by M. Kovačić.

FIGURE 12. Suborbital rows of sensory papillae with absent transverse rows and only longitudinal rows in genus Lesueurigobius. Material stained. Photo by M. Kovačić.

FIGURE 13. Head canals with numerous extra pores in Deltentosteus species. Drawing by M. Kovačić.

FIGURE 14. Anterior oculoscapular head canal in genus Aulopareia with pore α large, elongate, slit like, extending posteriorly from the posteroventral margin of the eye. Drawing by M. Kovačić.

FIGURE 15. Suborbital row c with irregular transversal proliferations in Papillogobius melanobranchus marked with grey arrow. Photo and modifications by M. Kovačić.

FIGURE 16. Suborbital rows of sensory papillae with absent transverse rows and only longitudinal rows in Buenia massutii. Drawing by M. Kovačić.

FIGURE 17. Suborbital rows of sensory papillae in genus Silhouettea with suborbital sensory papillae row b ends anteriorly below anterior edge of eye.

FIGURE 18. Anterior oculoscapular head canal ends in interorbit with paired pore λ in Knipowitschia panizzae. Material stained. Photo and modifications by M. Kovačić.

FIGURE 19. The example of suborbital sensory papillae row a with many transversal rows in Pomatoschistus minutus. Row a marked, material stained. Photo and modifications by M. Kovačić.

FIGURE 20. Head laterally compressed and eye high up above the profile from lateral view in Cryptocentrus caeruleopunctatus. Drawing by M. Kovačić

FIGURE 21. Anterior dorsal row g of sensory papillae ends anterior to lateral end of row o in Thorogobius macrolepis. Material stained. Photo and modifications by M. Kovačić.

FIGURE 22. First dorsal fin with large black spot in posterior part in Neogobius melanostomus. Photo by M. Kovačić.

FIGURE 23. Anterior oculoscapular head canal with short side branch to pore α below eye in Gobius paganellus. Photo and modifications by M. Kovačić.

FIGURE 24. Oculoscapular row x¹ of sensory papillae ending forward behind pore β in Gobius cruentatus. Photo and modifications by M. Kovačić.

FIGURE 25. Cheek coloration pattern: A) Gobius bucchichi, B) G. incognitus. Photo by M. Kovačić.

FIGURE 26. Suborbital row d divided in Gobius couchi. Drawing by M. Kovačić

FIGURE 27. Gobius vittatus coloration. Photo by M. Kovačić.

FIGURE 28. Enlarged head pores of Gymnesigobius medits. Material stained. Photo by M. Kovačić.

FIGURE 29. Interorbital transverse sensory papillae row p present in Millerigobius macrocephalus. Drawing by M. Kovačić.