FISHES OF THE MARSHALL AND 



MARIANAS ISLANDS 



Volume 3 



Order PERCOMORPHIDA 



Suborder Gobiina 



Superfamily Gobioidea 



By Leonard P. Schultz 



Authors who have studied the numerous genera of gobiid fishes 

 indicate that this group contains an assemblage of rather diverse 

 genera (Herre, Philippine Journ. Sci., vol. 82, No. 4, pp. 345-347, 

 1954). The Gobiidae may be recognized by about 5 or 6 feeble dorsal 

 spines, then a slightly wider space, followed by the second dorsal with 

 a single feeble spine and about 7 to 32 soft rays. The anal fin origin 

 is opposite the second dorsal and is composed of a single feeble spine 

 and about 7 to 32 rays. The pel vies have 1 spine and 3 to 5 soft 

 rays inserted under or nearly under the pectoral fin base. One out- 

 standing characteristic is that the inner rays of the pelvics are the 

 longest and are sometimes connected by a membrane running along 

 their inner edges. In certain intermediate genera between the Gobii- 

 nae and Eleotrinae, it is difficult to distinguish the presence or absence 

 of a connecting membrane between inner pelvic rays. An air bladder 

 is present in most gobiids; there is no lateral line. 



A study of the Microdesmidae and Kraemeriidae reveals that these 

 two families share most of the above characters, e.g., no lateral line, 

 pelvics I, 3 to 5, inner rays longest, forming or not forming a cuplike 

 disk, pelvic insertion under base of pectorals or nearly so, dorsal fin 

 composed of feeble spines anteriorly and soft rays posteriorly, anal 

 origin usually just behind anus, composed of one or possibly two 

 feeble spines anteriorly, followed by soft rays; air bladder usually 

 present; gill cleft behind fourth arch not restricted. 



An examination of the genera and species usually referred to the 

 subfamily Trypaucheninae under the family Taenioididae indicates 

 relationship with the Microdesmidae. The character that distin- 

 guishes this subfamUy among all Gobiina is the pit at the upper 

 margin of the opercle that opens to a cavity which is separate from 

 the gill cavity. At least two species referable to the genus Try- 



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