Redigobius fotuno, a new limnetic goby from Muna Island, Indonesia (Teleostei: Gobiidae)

• Published in: Ichthyological research Vol. 72; no. 1; pp. 55 - 66
• Main Authors: Kobayashi, Hirozumi, Sumarto, Bayu K. A., Mokodongan, Daniel F., Lawelle, Sjamsu A., Masengi, Kawilarang W. A., Yamahira, Kazunori
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tokyo Springer Nature B.V 01.01.2025
• Subjects: Animal morphology; color; Endemic species; habitats; Head; Indonesia; Jaw; Limestone; Marine fishes; Maxilla; New species; Redigobius; Sinkholes; species; Indonesia
• ISSN: 1341-8998; 1616-3915
• DOI: 10.1007/s10228-024-00958-0

Redigobius fotuno sp. nov., described from a limestone sinkhole on Muna Island, Southeastern Sulawesi, Indonesia, is most similar to Redigobius penango (Popta 1922), endemic to the Sulawesi mainland, both species having a robust body and rounded head, reticular body color pattern, and longitudinal suborbital papillae rows. However, the new species is distinguished from the latter in having greater head length (35.3–38.4% of standard length [SL]), upper jaw length (14.7–20.0% of SL) and predorsal length (43.4–46.0% of SL), and a slender pelvic disc with thin frenum (length: 21.7–26.2% of SL; base width: 4.2–6.3% of SL). These unique morphological characters of R. fotuno sp. nov. may be related to the limnetic habitat of the species.