Key of Eleotris species from the West Indian Ocean

1-a. – Cephalic neuromast pattern ‘closed; ‘2.4.6’ ....... 2

1-b. – Cephalic neuromast pattern ‘open; ‘2.4’ .......... 3

1-c. – Cephalic neuromast pattern ‘closed; ‘2.3.4’ ....... 6

2-a. – Transverse scales in forward series in males 18-30 and females 22-28............ Eleotris klunzingerii (Fig. 10)

2-b. – Transverse scales in forward series in males 13-22 and females 13-25............ Eleotris fusca (very rare in the West Indian Ocean) (Fig. 11)

3-a. – Presence of ‘teeth’ in the vomer........................................ Eleotris vomerodentata (Fig. 4)

3-b. – Absence of ‘teeth’ in the vomer................. 4

4-a. – Pectoral rays 16-17, predorsal scales 30-42................................ Eleotris acanthopoma (Fig. 9)

4-b. – Pectoral rays 15, predorsal scales 26-34.......... 5

5-a. – Head length 30-32% SL, zigzag scales 10.............................. Eleotris sahanaensis n. sp. (Fig. 5)

5-b. – Head length 31-37% SL, zigzag scales 10-12.................................. Eleotris pellegrini (Fig. 3)

6-a. – Lateral scales 50-56, zigzag scales 12-13....................................... Eleotris soaresi (Fig. 6)

6-b. – Lateral scales 59-69, zigzag scales 13-15......... 7

7-a. – Pectoral rays 16, predorsal scales 36-38................................... Eleotris diamsoi n. sp. (Fig. 7)

7-b. – Pectoral rays 18, predorsal scales 45-50................................... Eleotris valadei n. sp. (Fig. 8)