Trypauchen pelaeos, Edward O. Murdy, 2006

Edward O. Murdy, 2006, A revision of the gobiid fish genus Trypauchen (Gobiidae: Amblyopinae)., Zootaxa 1343, pp. 55-68 : 65-66

Trypauchen pelaeos n. sp.

(Figs. 1-2 & 6, Tables 1-2)

Holotype: USNM 339609, 134.8 mm SL, female, Malaysia, south of Penang, south of Pu Kendi Island, 05°11’N, 100°10’E, collected by Frank J. Schwartz, 06 May 1969.

Paratypes: (Total of 28 specimens, 46.4-145.6 mm SL) Myanmar: Kuala Bernam, Bernam River estuary, AMS I.28984-047, 3:71.1-95.4, 03°47’N, 100°55’E, collected by D.G. Stead, 23 Feb 1922 . Malaysia: same data as holotype, USNM 389739, 1:90.9 ; same data as holotype, USNM 339608, 17:46.4-145.6 ; Strait of Malacca: AMS I.27633-016, 1:83.1, 02°14’N, 102°14’E, collected by D.G. Stead, 16 Feb 1922 . Thailand: Bangpakong River: USNM 385738, 1:108.0, collected by H.M. Smith, 27 June 1933 . Vietnam: Soc Trang, Bassoc River: UMMZ 245453, 1:57.0, 9°32’N, 106°13’E, collected by fishermen for Walter J. Rainboth, 09 Apr 1999 . China, Xiamen, AMS I.28094-017, 1:108.0, fish market purchase, 13 Oct 1988 ; Guangdong Sheng, Shantou: AMS I.38176-002, 1:98.2, 5 Mar 1954 ; Foochow: USNM 385741 (cleared & stained), 2:91.7-93.9 .

Description. As for genus except as follows. Total elements in dorsal fin 46-52 (mean = 49.6); total elements in anal fin 39-44 (mean = 41.2); pectoral-fin rays 16-20 (mean = 18.7); anal-fin pterygiophores preceding the first hemal spine 4 (mean = 4.0); caudal vertebral count 19-20 (mean = 19.4). The following subset of morphometric measures from Table 2 is useful in describing T. pelaeos and differentiating T. pelaeos from T. vagina : SL/total length 0.802-0.843 (mean = 0.824); head length/SL 0.179-0.220 (mean = 0.201); predorsal length/SL 0.215-0.253 (mean = 0.238); prepelvic length/SL 0.181-0.217 (mean = 0.195); preanal length/SL 0.366-0.410 (mean = 0.390). Four to 13 teeth (mean = 8.1) on outer row of upper jaw; 8-15 teeth (mean = 10.3) on outer row of lower jaw.

Longitudinal scale rows 59-88 (mean = 74.1).

Color when fresh. No fresh specimens or images of fresh specimens were available. Presumably, T. pelaeos is like its congener and is reddish when alive.

Color in alcohol. Head and body tannish; fins translucent.

Ecology. No data is available other than the collection information from individual specimens, which is meager. For USNM 339608, 339609, and 385739 (all collections from south of Pu Kendi Island, Malaysia) shrimp trawls were used. For USNM 339608, the collection was made at a depth of about 3-4m and another amblyopine ( Pseudotrypauchen multiradiatus ) was also collected. For USNM 339609 and 385739, the collections were made at a depth of about 14-20m.

In several instances, specimens of both T. pelaeos and T. vagina were together in the same lot indicating the same or similar ecological requirements. However, some of these lots consist of specimens purchased from fish markets.

Distribution. T. pelaeos is known from Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and China. As T. vagina is similarly known from these countries (except for Malaysia) considerable distributional overlap exists between the two species.

Etymology. The trivial name, Greek for mud-dweller, is in reference to the typical habitat for this fish.