Karsten totoyensis (Garman, 1903)

Family:  Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Amblyopinae
Max. size:  4.82 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 0 - 1122 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Fiji, Indonesia and the Philippines; probably more widely distributed.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 6-6; Dorsal soft rays (total): 46-51; Anal soft rays: 40-44; Vertebrae: 28-31. This species is distinguished by having spinous pterygiophore formula 3-123, 3-132, or 3-122 + 2. (here the 6th spine shares its interneural space with the 2 pterygiophores associated with the first 2 dorsal fin soft rays) (vs. 3-1221 or 3-12210 in other amblyopines); precaudal vertebrae 9 (vs. 10 ) (Ref. 43739). Description: spinous elements of dorsal and anal fins are soft and flexible; spinous (first) and soft (second) dorsal fins connected by a membrane; anteriormost ray associated with 2 pterygiophores determined as first element of 'second dorsal fin'; a fibrous tissue is present at the base of dorsal and anal fins; anal fin height approximately equal to second dorsal fin height and anal fin membrane broadly joined with caudal fin; pectoral fin bent anteriorly crescent-shaped with dorsal-most rays about twice as long as ventralmost and all rays are segmented but unbranched; pelvic fin frenum present, the basal membrane uniting fins for almost entire length of innermost ray, it is slightly emarginate posteriorly; caudal fin with 9+8 segmented rays, 8+7 branched, procurrent rays absent, represented by ossified nubbins, two dorsally and one or two ventrally; no scales on head, cheeks, belly, and anterior 3/5 of body; cycloid scales only at posterior part of the body; tongue thick, tip rounded, free from floor of mouth; gape wide, mouth slightly oblique; eyes absent; cephalic sensory pores absent (Ref. 43739).
Biology:  Collected over mud and sand bottoms. Its small size and deep-dwelling habitat makes collection a difficult task (Ref. 43739).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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