Gobiid fish

10 p. : ill. ; 26 cm.Includes bibliographical references (p. 10).The bluenose goby, Coryphopterus lipernes Böhlke and Robins, was described in 1962 from three specimens collected in the Florida Keys; it has remained poorly known since that time. Recent collections and observations indicate that this species is widespread in the caribbean and Bahamas but at low population densities wherever it occurs. It is also one of the few species of western Atlantic reef fishes that lives in relatively continuous close physical contact with live corals. All the individuals, observed at night and during the day, spent most of the time resting on live corals, with only a few brief forays onto nearby algal mats, or off the coral to feed. In this respect the bluenose goby is an ecological counterpart of the Indo-Pacific clownfishes (Amphiprion). The mechanism by which the bluenose goby avoids being stung by the nematocysts of the coelenterates may not be the same as that of the clownfishes because clownfishes become acclimated to individual anemones, whereas the bluenose goby can move freely back and forth among coral colonies of both the same and different species. Other species of fishes associated with live corals in the West Indies share with the bluenose goby certain features that we interpret to be specializations for this way of life. Within the genus Coryphopterus, two divergent lineages show progressive specialization toward coral-dwelling, on the one hand, and toward sand-dwelling, on the other

Oral brooding

11 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.Includes bibliographical references (p. 10-11)."Two specimens of Cheilodipterus affinis Poey from the Bahamas have darkly pigmented, fleshy, protuberant chin flaps. One of these was sectioned and compared histologically with the tip of the mandible from a specimen without the flap. The flap seems to be the result of an increased amount of loose, collagenous connective tissue and histologically bears a strong resemblance to the pharyngeal pads of the mouthbrooding cichlid, Geophagus jurupari. Ten additional specimens with chin flaps have been found in trawl collections made off the coast of Venezuela. This cardinalfish is an oral brooder: eggs have been found in the mouths of seven males and three females. Two of the females and all of the males with eggs in their mouths had chin flaps, but one female without a flap was carrying eggs"--P. 10

Redescription of the Indo-Australian filefish Acreichthys radiatus (Popta) (Monacanthidae, Tetraodontiformes). American Museum novitates ; no. 2727

14 p. : ill. ; 26 cm.Includes bibliographical references (p. 14)."Acreichthys radiatus (Popta, 1900) is redescribed in comparison to A. tomentosus, indicating that these two Indo-Australian species differ most obviously to the naked eye in color pattern, whereas microscopic examination shows that they also can be distinguished by the greater degree of scale spinule branching in tomentosus, in the smaller size at sexual maturity in radiatus, in radiatus usually having one less anal fin ray, and in several proportional measurements. They also differ in that the smaller species, radiatus, is found around coral reefs, whereas the habitat of tomentosus is inshore on sand and grass beds"--P. [1]

Population ecology of a Bahamian suprabenthic shore fish assemblage. American Museum novitates ; no. 2528

38 p. : ill., map ; 24 cm.Includes bibliographical references (p. 37-38)."The fishes living within 6 meters of the bottom around natural and artificial reefs on the outer shelf of the Great Bahama Bank were censused repeatedly during six observation periods of three to seven days each between March, 1970, and June, 1971. Counts were made through a closed-circuit television (UTV) with the camera permanently mounted on the sea floor in water 17 meters deep. The television caused no disturbance to the fishes that hover in the water column and are too wary to be approached by divers. Sixty-six species were observed in a cylinder of water approximately 20 meters in diameter and 6 meters high. Thirty-three of the observed species were truly suprabenthic nomadic species; the rest were either benthic forms that used the lower part of the water column or midwater species that ocasionally fed near the bottom. The suprabenthic species are classified according to feeding specializations and an attempt is made to examine the interactions and flow of energy and information within the comunity. Some mechanisms for maintaining the homeostasis of the community are postulated"--P. [1]

Systematic significance of the burrow form of seven species of garden eels (Congridae, Heterocongrinae). American Museum novitates ; no. 3037

13 p. : ill. ; 26 cm.Includes bibliographical references (p. 13

Succession and stability in fish communities of dome-shaped patch reefs in the West Indies. American Museum novitates ; no. 2572

18 p. : ill. ; 26 cm.Includes bibliographical references (p. 18)."The scleractinian coral Montastrea annularis often forms dome-shaped heads that may reach a diameter of 5m. Eventually these heads become too large to support their own weight and they collapse, leaving a base on which other corals can grow and ultimately form complex patch reefs. We have studied the fishes associated with reefs in the solid colony stage, small, middle-sized, and large domes, and partially collapsed domes. One reef was censused in 1970 and again in 1973. Between visits part of the reef had collapsed, reducing the amount the amount of large shelters available for cardinalfishes (Apogonidae), squirrelfishes (Holocentridae), and grunts (Pomadasyidae). Concomitantly there was a dramatic increase in the population of gobies (Gobiidae) and blennies (Clinidae). Nevertheless, there was little change in the total number of species and individuals inhabiting the reef. An analysis of the sizes of the infaunal residents can provide a measure of the niche utilization and equilibrium. A model is presented to show how size of the individual fish functions in the regulation of species composition and population structure within reef fish communities"--P. [1]