VALENCIENNEA DECORA - (HOESE & LARSON, 1994)
Actinopterygii (Gigaclass) > Actinopteri (Class) > Teleostei (Subclass) > Gobiiformes (Order) > Gobioidei (Suborder) > Gobiidae (Family) > Gobiinae (Subfamily) > Valenciennea (Genus)
Gobie décoré, Decorated glidergoby, Decora goby, Decorated glider goby, Orange-banded sleeper, 华美凡塘鳢,
Description
Dorsal spines (total): 6; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11; Anal spine: 1; Anal soft rays: 11; Pectoral fin rays: 21-23 (usually: 21); Gill rakers on innerface of second arch: 12-14; Longitudinal scale count: 88-106; Transverse scale count: 29-36; Pectoral base naked; Prepelvic area in adults usually with a small patch of scales in center; First dorsal fin margin rounded, third to fifth spines subequal or fourth slightly longer than others, no prolonged spines; Caudal fin obtuse, central rays longest, but not distinctly prolonged; Caudal fin: 25.0-26.5 % SL in young (slightly shorter than head) to 27.0-33.3 % SL in adult (slightly longer than head length). Max. length: 11.3 cm SL. Depth range: 2 - 33 m.
Color
Head with 2-3 distinct horizontal or slightly oblique stripes; Top of head and snout with numerous brown spots (blue in life), slightly smaller than pupil diameter; Body with a single horizontal stripe (yellow in life) below midline, extending onto caudal-fin base; 1 or 4-5 rectangular or oval shaped bars (yellow in life), extending dorsally from body stripe to dorsal body contour; Tongue, roof of mouth, inner side of gill cover, covered sides of isthmus, throat, and most of floor of mouth solid black in adults; First dorsal fin with a dark stripe near margin extending from first to fifth spines.
Etymology
Valenciennea: in honnor of Achille Valenciennes (1794-1865) who was a French zoologist. He worked with Auguste Henri André Duméril (1812-1870), Georges Cuvier (1769-1832) and Bernard Germain de Lacépède (1756-1825) since 1815. He worked on the 22-volume of a "Histoire naturelle des poissons" (1828-1848), carrying on alone after Georges Cuvier died in 1832.
decora: from Latin, decorus = adorned, elegant. Referring to the beautiful color pattern of this species.
Original description: Valenciennea decora Hoese & Larson, 1994 - Type locality: outer reef on northern side of One Tree Island, 23°30'S, 152°05'E, Capricorn Group, Great Barrier Reef, Australia, depth: 20 meters, sand, B. Russell and R. Kuiter, 19 September 1974.
Distribution
Southwestern Pacific: Great Barrier Reef, Queensland (Australia), New Caledonia, Fiji and Tonga.
Biology
Inhabits sandy areas. Seek refuge in shallow burrows. Aquarium fish.
Gobie décoré, Decorated glidergoby, Decora goby, Decorated glider goby, Orange-banded sleeper, 华美凡塘鳢,
Description
Dorsal spines (total): 6; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11; Anal spine: 1; Anal soft rays: 11; Pectoral fin rays: 21-23 (usually: 21); Gill rakers on innerface of second arch: 12-14; Longitudinal scale count: 88-106; Transverse scale count: 29-36; Pectoral base naked; Prepelvic area in adults usually with a small patch of scales in center; First dorsal fin margin rounded, third to fifth spines subequal or fourth slightly longer than others, no prolonged spines; Caudal fin obtuse, central rays longest, but not distinctly prolonged; Caudal fin: 25.0-26.5 % SL in young (slightly shorter than head) to 27.0-33.3 % SL in adult (slightly longer than head length). Max. length: 11.3 cm SL. Depth range: 2 - 33 m.
Color
Head with 2-3 distinct horizontal or slightly oblique stripes; Top of head and snout with numerous brown spots (blue in life), slightly smaller than pupil diameter; Body with a single horizontal stripe (yellow in life) below midline, extending onto caudal-fin base; 1 or 4-5 rectangular or oval shaped bars (yellow in life), extending dorsally from body stripe to dorsal body contour; Tongue, roof of mouth, inner side of gill cover, covered sides of isthmus, throat, and most of floor of mouth solid black in adults; First dorsal fin with a dark stripe near margin extending from first to fifth spines.
Etymology
Valenciennea: in honnor of Achille Valenciennes (1794-1865) who was a French zoologist. He worked with Auguste Henri André Duméril (1812-1870), Georges Cuvier (1769-1832) and Bernard Germain de Lacépède (1756-1825) since 1815. He worked on the 22-volume of a "Histoire naturelle des poissons" (1828-1848), carrying on alone after Georges Cuvier died in 1832.
decora: from Latin, decorus = adorned, elegant. Referring to the beautiful color pattern of this species.
Original description: Valenciennea decora Hoese & Larson, 1994 - Type locality: outer reef on northern side of One Tree Island, 23°30'S, 152°05'E, Capricorn Group, Great Barrier Reef, Australia, depth: 20 meters, sand, B. Russell and R. Kuiter, 19 September 1974.
Distribution
Southwestern Pacific: Great Barrier Reef, Queensland (Australia), New Caledonia, Fiji and Tonga.
Biology
Inhabits sandy areas. Seek refuge in shallow burrows. Aquarium fish.
Last update: 11, August 2024