Japanese Gobies of the genus Clariger are small eel-like fish in the Goby Family (Gobiidae) noted for their cylindrical body-shape and reduced front dorsal fin with only three spines; Gobys usually have two dorsal fins, though some groups have lost the front fin, the genus Clariger seem to be in the process of losing theirs. To date five species have been described in the genus, all from Japanese coastal waters.
In a paper published in the journal ZooKeys on 1 June 2012, Nian-Hong Jang-Liaw, You-Hai Gong and I-Shiung Chen of the Institute of Marine Biology at the National Taiwan Ocean University describe a new species of Japanese Goby from coastal waters on the north Taiwan Coast.
Map showing the locations where the new fish was found. Jang-Liaw et al. (2012).
The new species is named as Clariger taiwanensis, meaning Taiwanese. It is a slender 30-40 mm fish, with a cylindrical foreparts but flattened towards the tail. The head is somewhat flattened and the eyes small. It is brownish with a speckled appearance. All of the specimens found were gathered in tidal pools, a common habitat for Gobies.
Clariger taiwanensis. Jang-Liaw et al. (2012).
See also Head-Butting in Giant Bumphead Parrotfish, A novel Coelacanth from the Early Triassic of British Columbia, An early Ray-Finned fish from the Middle Triassic Luoping Biota of Yunnan Province, China, News species of Velvetfish from the Kimberly Coast of Western Australia and Boney Fish on Sciency Thoughts YouTube.
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