An updated checklist of the Red Sea gobioid species (Teleostei: Gobiiformes), with four new records

Abstract

An updated checklist and status assessment of the gobioid species (Gobiiformes) in the Red Sea is provided. Of the 162 species, 141 belong to the Gobiidae, nine to Microdesmidae, five to Xenisthmidae, six to Schindleriidae and one to Kraemeriidae. The Shrimpgoby (Cryptocentrus steinhardti) and the Sand Goby (Hazeus ingressus) are reported from Eilat, Israel and Abu Dabab, Marsa Alam, Egypt. Both species, which belong to Indo-West Pacific genera, were originally described from the eastern Mediterranean Sea and were unknown from the Red Sea so far. Records of these species are based on underwater photographs. Eviota pseudostigma, a species known from islands of the Western Indian Ocean, was photographed and collected from Mangrove Bay, El Quseir, Egypt, and represents a new record for the Red Sea. Eviota oculopiperita, described from the north-eastern Red Sea was found on the western side of the Red Sea. A new record of the microdesmid fish Gunnellichthys irideus, based on underwater photographs taken from the southern Egypt, is reported. Previous records of Paragobiodon echinocephalus from the Gulf of Aqaba are regarded as misidentification of P. modestus.