New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research abstracts

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Short communication

Gobiopterus in New Zealand (Teleostei: Gobiidae), with observations on sexual dimorphism

R. M. McDowall

National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research

P.O. Box 8602

Christchurch, New Zealand

email: r.mcdowall@niwa.co.nz

B. O. David

Department of Conservation

P.O. Box 112

Hamilton, New Zealand

Abstract The small, transparent gobioid Gobiopterus semivestitus is recorded for the first time from New Zealand, from a tributary of Ngunguru River, near Whangarei, Northland. Distinctive features of its sexual dimorphism are reported, in particular enlarged fins and greatly enlarged jaw dentition in the male. The origins of this species in New Zealand waters are uncertain: it could have been here for some time, unobserved; it could have dispersed recently to New Zealand across the Tasman Sea from Australia; or it could have arrived in ships’ ballast water.

Keywords ballast water;dispersal; fresh water; Gobiidae; Gobiopterus; Northland; sexual dimorphism

New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 2008, Vol. 42: 325–331

0028–8330/08/4203–0325 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2008

M07055; Online publication date 17 September 2008

Received 2 November 2007; accepted 18 July 2008

PDF file of entire paper: Print-quality (482K) | screen-quality (352K)

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