Ophiocara cantoris ( Günther, 1861 )

Keith, Philippe & Mennesson, Marion I., 2021, Review of Ophiocara (Teleostei: Butidae) from Indo-Pacific Islands, Cybium 45 (2), pp. 89-108 : 105-106

Ophiocara cantoris ( Günther, 1861)

( Figs 2-3 , 6 , 9-10 ; Tabs II-III)

Material examined

As there are confusions on the syntypes series of this species (see our previous discussion), according to ICZN (1999: art. 74.1) we here designate a lectotype among the BMNH syntypes.

Lectotype. – BMNH 1860.3.19.577 (98 mm SL; half skin), Penang, Malaysia.

Paralectotype. – BMNH 1860.3.19.581 (110 mm SL; half skin), Penang, Malaysia .

Others. – Ophiocara sp , NTM S.17453-002, male (63 mm SL), Creek off Observatory, Pulau Ubin, Singapore, 16 Oct. 2012, Larson & Party coll. MNHN-IC-A-1329, male (107.6 mm SL), Vietnam, 1876, Harmand coll. MNHN-IC-1963-0597, male (90 mm SL), Cambodia, March 1961, d’Aubenton & Fily coll.

Diagnosis

The species usually has 37-39 lateral scales, 25-27 predorsal scales, 8-9 zigzag scales and the jaw length is 14-16% SL.

Description

Below, the lectotype counts are given first, followed in brackets, if different, by the other specimens counts. The scale counts are given in table II and selected morphometrics in table III.

The body is more ovoid than elongated. The body depth at anus is 21 (19-24)% SL, at first dorsal fin 23 (21-26)% SL, and the caudal peduncle depth is 13 (13-16)% SL. Predorsal length 43 (43-46)% SL and preanal length 64 (64-69)% SL.

The head 33 (32-37)% SL is depressed, the snout is convex. The anterior nostrils are long, reaching lower margin of upper lip. The mouth and jaw length 15 (14-16)% SL are large with inwardly curved teeth set on both jaws and larger on outer row of upper jaw. Posterior end of maxillary extending below 1/2 or 2/3 of posterior margin of eye. Eye diameter 6 (6-8)% SL.

Dorsal fins VI-I,8 with no filamentous rays. The first dorsal fin is with second, third and fourth rays longer. Anal fin I,7 directly opposite to the second dorsal fin. The caudal fin is with 15-branched rays and its posterior margin is rounded. Pelvic fins separate, I,5. Pectoral fins 15, with the posterior margin rounded. Lateral scales 38 (37-39), with ctenoid scales on flanks and caudal peduncle. Cycloid scales from snout to top of head and anterior part of D1, on operculum, on base of pectoral fins and on belly extending to anus. Scales of top of head and back bigger than those of belly. Scales in transverse back series 13 (11-13), in transverse forward 18 (18-20), in predorsal usually 25 (25-27) and in zigzag 8 (8-9). Gill opening extending beyond the posterior end of urohyal.

Cephalic sensory pore system as described by Akihito and Meguro (1974) and Akihito (1986), with oculoscapular canal nasal to post-temporal with the pores A to L except for G; preopercular canal long with the pores M to Q; oculoscapular canal grooves on nasal, frontal, pterotic and post-temporal; inner side of oculoscapular canal on frontal walled continuously from C to F; preopercular canal groove long. Head sensory papillae as described by Akihito and Meguro (1974) and Akihito et al. (1988).

Males with a rounded/elongated urogenital papilla with distal tip rounded.

Colour in preservation

Background of body brown on the back and head. The flanks are brownish with some patches light brown ( Fig. 10 ). Belly beige. Lateral parts of head light brown. Two beige vertical continuous bands on the flanks, the first one from the anterior part of the second dorsal fin and the medium part of belly, the second one around the caudal peduncle. Several beige spots at hypural base and between the second dorsal and the anal fin. The first and second dorsal fins are brown with 4-5 rows of aligned white spots along rays. The pelvic, pectoral and anal fins are grey and without spots. Caudal fin brown to grey with several whitish dots.

Colour in life

Unknown

NB: In their book A Guide to Gobies of Singapore Larson and Lim (2005) gave live pictures of Ophiocara living there but they gave 33-37 lateral scales for the specimens examined and this covers both the lateral scales data of O. ophicephalus (32-35) and O. cantoris (37-39). According to the known distribution of both species, it is possible that these 2 species live in sympatry in Singapore. Thus, the pictures of the book showing a ‘silver dotted pattern’ for the adult (as Fig. 7B ), and a juvenile with 2 transverse vertical bands (as Fig. 7C ) could refer to one or the other species, and unfortunately not necessarily to O. cantoris .

Ecology

With the doubt cited in the above note, Larson and Lim (2005) mentioned that in Singapore Ophiocara is ‘common in mangrove creeks, prawn ponds and canals in estuarine areas hiding along the stream bank edges among mangrove roots or under logs and leaf litter’.

Figures

Figure 2. – Bayesian tree of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit (COI; 446 bp) for sequenced specimens of Ophiocara. Numbers at each node represent posterior probabilities.

Figure 3. – Barcoding NJ K2P trees of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit for sequenced specimens of Ophiocara including three syntypes from MNHN collection; Eleotris porocephala Valenciennes, 1837 from New Ireland (Papua New Guinea) (MNHN-IC-A-1574) and from Seychelles (MNHN-IC-A-1573), and E. madagascariensis Valenciennes, 1837 (MNHN-IC-A-2709). Numbers at each node represent bootstrap values. For all trees, MNHN syntypes are in bold. In tree (A) [199 bp], the three specimens from the Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (NTM,Australia) are highlighted with a star; Tree (B) [110 bp]; Tree (C) [106 bp].

Figure 6. – Distribution of Ophiocara species.

Figure 7. – A: Ophiocara ophicephalus, male, New Caledonia (Photo N. Charpin); B: Ophiocara ophicephalus, male, ‘silver dotted pattern’, New Caledonia (Photo L. Taillebois); C: Ophiocara ophicephalus, juvenile, New Caledonia (Photo E. Vigneux).

Figure 9. – Ophiocara cantoris, lectotype BMNH 1860.3.19.577 (above; 98 mm SL) and paralectotype BMNH 1860.3.19.581 (below; 110 mm SL) (Photo BMNH, N. Martin).

Figure 10. – Ophiocara cantoris, NTM S.17453-002, Singapore; 63 mm SL (Photo NTM, M. Hammer).