10 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 2 02 Vol. 3 



Berg (Classification of fishes, both Recent and fossil, p. 480, 1940) 

 places this family under the "Suborder Blennioidei," in which the 

 pelvic fins are inserted in a "jugular or mental" position. However, 

 the pelvic fins of the microdesmids are mserted under the base of 

 pectorals and are not jugular in position. I believe this family 

 should be placed under Berg's "Superfamily Eleotrioidae" along with 

 the Kraemeriidae. The very small size of some of the species in this 

 family makes it extremely difficult to examine certain characters, even 

 under a wide-field binocular microscope. 



Genus GUNNELLICHTHYS Bleeker 



GunnelUchthys Bleeker, Act. Soc. Sci. Indo-Neerl., vol. 3, pp. -3, 9, 1858 (type 

 species, GunnelUchthys pleurotaenia Bleeker). 



Dr. J. L. B. Smith (Rhodes Univ. Icthy. Bull. No. 9, pp. 123-129, 

 figs. 1-2, 1958) published a revision of the fishes related to Gunnell- 

 ichthys and established the new family name Gunnellichthyidae. 

 This action was unnecessary since at least two other family names 

 were available and one, Microdesmidae, is in wide use. In addition, 

 he described two new species and established a new genus in the 

 family. However, Fowler (Mem. Bishop Mus., vol. 12, No. 2, p. 152, 

 1949) probably was the first to recognize and publish on the relation- 

 ship of Microdesmus gertrudae (Fowler) — ^which is a synonym of 

 GunnelUchthys pleurotaenia) — to the family Microdesmidae, in which 

 family he placed the species. 



I have studied Smith's descriptions and figures, and from specimens 

 of G. monostigma, G. irideus, and G. copleyi kindly sent to me by Smith 

 and from specimens in the collections here the following key was 

 prepared. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES OF GUNNELLICHTHYS 



la. Anal fin origin slightly closer to tip of snout than midbase of caudal fin; 

 a dark stripe from snout through eye along side of body to rear of middle 

 caudal fin rays, another dark stripe along middorsal line, thence along 

 base of dorsal fin; a dark line across dorsal fin; dorsal fin origin over front 

 half of length of pectoral fin. 



2a. Dorsal rays 56 to 60; anal 34 to 39 G. pleurotaenia Bleeker 



2b. Dorsal rays 60 to 63 ; anal 38 to 40 G. copleyi Smith ^ 



16. Anal origin closer to caudal fin base than tip of snout; color pattern not as 

 in la. 

 3a. Rear tip of opercle with a black spot; pel vies shorter than pectorals, 

 dorsal rays 60 to 61; anal 39 to 41 G. monostigraa Smith » 



^ Paragobioides copleyi Smith, J. L. B., Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 12, vol. 4, pp. 518-527, figs. 1, 2, 1951 

 (type locality, Mozambique Island, Baixo Pinda (12° S), and Mombasa). 



GunnelUchthys (GunnelUchthys) copleyi Smith, Rhodes Univ. Ichthy. Bull. No. 9, p. 126, fig. 2D, 1958 

 (Pinda). 



8 GunnelUchthys monostigma Smith, ibid., p. 127, fig. 2E, (type locality, Pinda, Mozambique). 



