Vol. 44 No. 1, 2005

Pascua caudilinea, a New Genus and Species of Gobiid Fish (Perciformes: Gobiidae) from Easter Island

John E. Randall

Bishop Museum 1525 Bernice St., Honolulu, HI 96817-2704, USA

John E. Randall (2005) Pascua caudilinea is described as a new genus and species of Gobiidae from 33 specimens, 8.1~27.7 mm SL, collected at Easter I. from tidepools to 40 m. It is distinguished by the following characters: head width less than body depth; 1st gill slit closed by membrane; gill opening ending at level of ventral edge of pectoral-fin base; posterior nostril not tubular; a complete cephalic sensory pore system; reduced sensory papillae of cheek; dorsal fins not completely separate, VI-I,8-9 (rarely 8); dorsal fin pterygiophores as found in Bathygobius; anal rays I,8; caudal fin rounded, shorter than head, with 17 segmented rays (14 branched); pectoral rays 20 or 21; pelvic rays I,5, fins completely separated, without a frenum; 5th pelvic ray unbranched and clearly shorter than 4th ray; scales ctenoid except a few anteriorly above pectoral-fin base and on abdomen where cycloid, 24~29 in longitudinal series; and no scales on head, nape, prepectoral area, or chest. The closest relative is an undescribed species from Rapa.

Key words: Taxonomy, Gobiidae, Pascua caudilinea, Easter Island.

*Correspondence: E-mail: jackr@hawaii.rr.com