A COLLECTION OF FRESHWATER FISHES FROM WESTERN NEW GUINEA WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF TWO NEW SPECIES (GOBIIDAE AND ELEOTRIDAE)

WA Museum Records and Supplements | Updated 1 decade ago

Abstract
Collections of freshwater fishes from western New Guinea (Irian jaya) are reported. They were procured mainly during two expeditions from the Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie (Leiden) during 1954·55 and 1959. Collections were made at or in the vicinity of Ajamaru Lakes, jamur Lake, Wissel Lakes, Digul River at Tanah Merah, Merauke, japen Island, and the vicinity of jayapura including Lake Sentani and the Tami River. The material includes 77 species representing 50 genera and 30 families. Two new species are described. Glossogobius hoesei sp. novo (Gobiidae) from the Ajamaru Lakes region is characterized by a truncate tongue, the absence of a branched pit organ canal below the eye, and a relatively short head (about 26 to 28% of the standard length). Oxyeleotris wisselensis sp. novo (Eleotridae) from the mountainous Wissel Lakes region is related to the widely distributed lowland species O. fimbriata. It differs, however, with regard to head shape, coloration, and maximum size. A brief diagnosis, illustrations and table of proportional measure· ments are presented for the new species. Other species are treated in an annotated checklist. In addition, a list of the 158 species thus far recorded from fresh waters of New Guinea is appended. A brief zoogeographical discussion of the New Guinea fauna is also included.

Author(s) ALLEN, GERALD R. AND BOESEMAN, M. : Part 2
Page Number
67