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In 2024, two new Gobiodon species were described from the waters around Papua New Guinea, Gobiodon bicalvolineatus and Gobiodon cobenjaminsis.
As the only photos of the two species in the attached initial description from the National University of Singapore are protected by copyright, and as these are also the only photos of the two species, we regret that we are unable to include a photo of the two gobies.
However, a photo of a living goby can be viewed on page 494 of the initial description.
Another ‘problem’ is that the depth data of the habitat are unknown, and therefore, unfortunately, no information on water temperature can be provided.
Gobiodon bicalvolineatus has only been observed in the waters around Loloata Island, an island in Papua New Guinea, and is considered an endemic species.
Colouration in life.
Gobiodon bicalvolineatus is light bluegreen with red vertical bars on the face, red spots and lighter diagonal bars on the dorsal surface of the head, oblique pale patch on cheek, and red thin unbroken horizontal lines along the length of the body. No black spot on opercular margin.
Habitat.
Gobiodon bicalvolineatus has only been found in the branching coral Acropora caroliniana Nemenzo, 1976, making it a highly specialised species (Munday et al., 1999).
Up to ten juveniles and adults have been observed simultaneously in the same coral colony (Munday et al., 2004).
Distribution. The species has been found mainly in the waters around the Motupore and Loloata Islands in Bootless Bay, Papua New Guinea (Munday et al., 1999; Munday et al., 2004). There used to be a fairly large population in this area (Munday et al., 2004), but current numbers are unknown.
A picture of an individual observed during an expedition in the Kranket Lagoon in the Madang region of Papua New Guinea in 1987 was also identified.
However, the specimen could not be confirmed.
Etymology.
The name ‘bicalvolineatus’ is derived from the Latin words for ‘two’, “bald” and ‘striped’ and refers to the two light spots on the back of the head, which mimic baldness, and the striking striped pattern on the body.
We would like to express our sincere thanks to the lead author, Dr Courtney Amber Hildebrandt from the University of Wollongong, who informed us on request that, unfortunately, there are no other photos available for free use apart from the one live photo.
As the only photos of the two species in the attached initial description from the National University of Singapore are protected by copyright, and as these are also the only photos of the two species, we regret that we are unable to include a photo of the two gobies.
However, a photo of a living goby can be viewed on page 494 of the initial description.
Another ‘problem’ is that the depth data of the habitat are unknown, and therefore, unfortunately, no information on water temperature can be provided.
Gobiodon bicalvolineatus has only been observed in the waters around Loloata Island, an island in Papua New Guinea, and is considered an endemic species.
Colouration in life.
Gobiodon bicalvolineatus is light bluegreen with red vertical bars on the face, red spots and lighter diagonal bars on the dorsal surface of the head, oblique pale patch on cheek, and red thin unbroken horizontal lines along the length of the body. No black spot on opercular margin.
Habitat.
Gobiodon bicalvolineatus has only been found in the branching coral Acropora caroliniana Nemenzo, 1976, making it a highly specialised species (Munday et al., 1999).
Up to ten juveniles and adults have been observed simultaneously in the same coral colony (Munday et al., 2004).
Distribution. The species has been found mainly in the waters around the Motupore and Loloata Islands in Bootless Bay, Papua New Guinea (Munday et al., 1999; Munday et al., 2004). There used to be a fairly large population in this area (Munday et al., 2004), but current numbers are unknown.
A picture of an individual observed during an expedition in the Kranket Lagoon in the Madang region of Papua New Guinea in 1987 was also identified.
However, the specimen could not be confirmed.
Etymology.
The name ‘bicalvolineatus’ is derived from the Latin words for ‘two’, “bald” and ‘striped’ and refers to the two light spots on the back of the head, which mimic baldness, and the striking striped pattern on the body.
We would like to express our sincere thanks to the lead author, Dr Courtney Amber Hildebrandt from the University of Wollongong, who informed us on request that, unfortunately, there are no other photos available for free use apart from the one live photo.
