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.
Last update: 11, August 2024
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