MAURITIAN HETERELEOTRIS 
—11 (2 specs), RUSI 56875 (1), USNM 344318, (2)] and PCH 95- 
MS [USNM 348369 (2 specs)]. The specimens agree well with 
Hoese’s original description and figures of the species. (Note that 
Hoese’s Fig. 5 of the cephalic laterosensory system of this species 
has been inadvertently swapped with his Fig. 3 for H. margaretae.) 
Hetereleotris zanzibarensis. Smith (1958) described H. zanzibar- 
ensis from a specimen from Zanzibar (as a new genus and species of 
eleotrid(id), Satulinus zanzibarensis); later (Smith, 1959) he 
described the species a second time (as a new species of gobiid, 
Monishia oculata) from specimens from Mahé, Seychelles (type 
locality), Kenya and Mozambique. Hoese (1986) extended its range 
to include the Agelega Islands, Saint Brandon Shoals and Mauritius, 
and R. Winterbottom (pers. comm.) has recently collected it at the 
Comores. Thirty-eight specimens were collected by the author and 
associates in Mauritius: PCH 95-M1 [BMNH 1997.10.24.12—13 (2 
specs), RUSI 56876 (1), USNM 344323 (2)]; PCH 95-M5 [USNM 
344324 (1)]; PCH 95-M9 [USNM 344325 (2)]; PCH 95-M10 
[USNM 344326 (1)]; PCH 95-M11 [USNM 344327 (1)]; PCH 95- 
M18 [BMNH 1997.10.24.14—18 (5), RUSI56877 (4), USNM 344328 
(9)]; PCH 95-M20 [BMNH 1997.10.24.19 (1), USNM 344329 (1)]; 
PCH 95-M22 [BMNH 1997.10.24.20 (1), RUSI 56878 (1), USNM 
344330 (2)]; PCH 95-M23 [USNM 344331 (2)]; PCH 95-M30 
[USNM 344332 (2)]. 
Hoese (1986) noted that H. zanzibarensis varies considerably in 
the development of the pelvic-fin disc, with some specimens pos- 
sessing a complete disc (i.e., with a low fraenum connecting the 
spine bases and a membrane connecting the fifth segemented rays) 
and others possessing barely united pelvic fins (i.e., no apparent 
fraenum between spine bases and fifth segmented rays connected 
only at their bases). This variation led Smith (1958, 1959) to place 
Satulinus zanzibarensis and Monishia oculata in separate families; 
until recently, development of the pelvic-fin disc was the primary 
basis for separation of the Gobiidae from the Eleotrididae. The 
Mauritian specimens examined here agree well with the pelvic-fin 
variation noted by Hoese (1986); approximately half of the speci- 
mens have a completely developed disc and the remainder have 
incompletely united fins. 
Hoese (1986) noted highly variable pectoral-fin-ray counts for H. 
zanzibarensis. Similar highly variable counts were noted for the 
Mauritian specimens examined here. Bilateral counts recorded from 
a subsample of the specimens were: 16 f7; 17 £19; 18 f6. 
95 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. I am grateful to the other members of the 1995 
Mauritius expedition: P. Clark, B. Galil, P.C. Heemstra, W. Holleman, M.J. 
Smale and D.G. Smith. I am particularly indepted to D.G. Smith for his 
efforts and company during the sorting and identification of specimens at the 
Smithsonian Institution. The success of the expedition owes much to the kind 
assistance of D. Pelicier and of Mauritian Fisheries officials, particularly staff 
of the Albion Fisheries Research Centre. Hetereleotris specimens were 
radiographed by S. Davidson, and P. Hurst photographed the holotype of H. 
georgegilli. Drafts of the manuscript were read and improved from comments 
by D.F. Hoese, N.R. Merrett, R.D. Mooi and R. Winterbottom. 
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