First record of the chocolate shrimp-goby (Gobiidae: Cryptocentrus malindiensis) from Réunion Island with a brief description of its natural habitat

Pinault M., Fricke R., Wickel J., Péneau C., Quod J.P.

Published date: September 2015
Volume: 39
Number: 3
Pagination: 237-239
doi: https://doi.org/10.26028/cybium/2015-393-007
Notes:

How to cite: Pinault, M., Fricke, R., Wickel, J., Péneau, C., & Quod, J.-P. (2015). First record of the chocolate shrimp-goby (Gobiidae: Cryptocentrus malindiensis) from Réunion Island with a brief description of its natural habitat. Cybium, 39(8): 237-239. https://doi.org/10.26028/CYBIUM/2015-393-007

Abstract

This note describes the first record of the chocolate shrimp-goby Cryptocentrus malindiensis (Smith, 1959) from Réunion Island, based on photographic evidence. A specimen of an estimated total length of 7 cm was photographed at 9:00 AM on 8 November 2012, at a water temperature of 26°C and depth of 8 m, on a prehistoric lava flow of the Piton de la Fournaise volcano. The habitat included shallow-water sea cracks and rocky overhangs, near basaltic muddy sandy bottoms, with a high hard substrate cover of calcareous algae, encrusting sponges and hydroids without coral, reflecting a low-light environment at these latitudes. Significant siltation, probably caused by a nearby river mouth, suggested the presence of a relatively low wave and current energy, which could be the effect of the confined nature of the habitat.

Keywords: Cryptocentrus malindiensis - First record - Gobiidae - Piton de la Fournaise volcano - Réunion Island - Rocky reef fish
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