''Gnatholepis gymnocara'', the Nakedcheek sandgoby, is a small species of
ray-finned fish in the
subfamily
In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end subfamily botanical names with "-oideae", and zoologi ...
Gobionellinae
The Gobionellinae are a subfamily of fish which was formerly classified in the family Gobiidae, the gobies, but the 5th Edition of '' Fishes of the World'' classifies the subfamily as part of the family Oxudercidae. Members of Gobionellinae most ...
.
[ The Naked cheek sandgoby is found primarily in the Indian Ocean along the coast of Australia .][Johnson, J.W., 1999. Annotated checklist of the fishes of Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 43(2):709-762.]
Description
The "naked cheeks," which serve as the namesake of this species, are one of the most diagnostic features of the Nakedcheek sandgoby. Scales are totally absent on the cheek and operculum, back to the predorsal midline, though there are a few typical cycloid scales on the base of the pectoral fin and on the breast.[Larson, H.K. and D.J. Buckle, 2012. A revision of the goby genus Gnatholepis Bleeker (Teleostei, Gobiidae, Gobionellinae), with description of a new species. Zootaxa 3529:1-69. ] While a small fold might be present on the end of the lower lip, there is no truly distinct flap on the lower lip, which is also common in other goby species. There are also no teeth with are distinctly larger than the rest of the dentition.[
]
Size and coloration
Males of this species reach a maximum length of 3.7 cm in total length.[ There is also an irregular dark, cross-shaped blotch on each cheek that extends downward from the eye.][ There is a small brown spot at the base of the caudal fin that is approximately the width of the pupil. Males also have a small dark spot at the base of the first dorsal fin, while females lack this feature.][
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Distribution and habitat
The Nakedcheek sandgoby is found in the western Pacific Ocean, specifically Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
.[ It can be found in shallow, nearshore ]marine
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Ocean
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* ...
environments between 0 and 1m in depth.[ Specimens are typically collected from around 0.5m deep and, while most are found in marine waters, at least one has been collected from a brackish habitat. ][
]
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q3290639
Gobionellinae
Fauna of Queensland
Marine fish of Eastern Australia
Fish described in 2001