Pascua marecoralliensis, a new species of goby (Gobiiformes, Gobiidae) from the central Coral Sea with validation of the genus Pascua
Pascua marecoralliensis, a new species of goby (Gobiiformes, Gobiidae) from the central Coral Sea with validation of the genus Pascua
In this paper, we use molecular phylogenetics, micro-CT scanning, and morphological analyses to describe a new species of goby, Pascua marecoralliensis, and demonstrate that the genus Pascua is distinct from Hetereleotris, as supported by five diagnostic characters, including modified basicaudal scales and reduced sensory papillae patterns. Phylogenetic analysis places Pascua as sister to the Gobiodon group, while Hetereleotris forms a separate clade. The new species, P. marecoralliensis, differs from congeners in fin ray counts, cephalic pore patterns, and head morphology and exhibits unique live colouration. Additionally, we reclassify Hetereleotris readerae and H. sticta as Pascua readerae and P. sticta based on shared genus-specific traits. The distribution of Pascua spans the southern Pacific, suggesting a relict lineage or undiscovered diversity in the genus. This work underscores the importance of integrative taxonomic approaches for resolving cryptic diversity in gobioid fishes and highlights the need for further sampling in understudied regions.
Goatley, Christopher H.R.
b158dc1a-76f3-4ace-9d33-260d8c76ac93
Varela, Andrea I.
52d03a84-1ae8-4048-9d13-718a92f10304
Sellanes, Javier
c552417a-ae9a-4532-b9ba-5f1f7cf583b4
Tornabene, Luke
9af512c2-5327-4b18-9ca6-ad3c8be8474b
4 September 2025
Goatley, Christopher H.R.
b158dc1a-76f3-4ace-9d33-260d8c76ac93
Varela, Andrea I.
52d03a84-1ae8-4048-9d13-718a92f10304
Sellanes, Javier
c552417a-ae9a-4532-b9ba-5f1f7cf583b4
Tornabene, Luke
9af512c2-5327-4b18-9ca6-ad3c8be8474b
Goatley, Christopher H.R., Varela, Andrea I., Sellanes, Javier and Tornabene, Luke
(2025)
Pascua marecoralliensis, a new species of goby (Gobiiformes, Gobiidae) from the central Coral Sea with validation of the genus Pascua.
Fishes, 10 (9), [449].
(doi:10.3390/ fishes10090449).
Abstract
In this paper, we use molecular phylogenetics, micro-CT scanning, and morphological analyses to describe a new species of goby, Pascua marecoralliensis, and demonstrate that the genus Pascua is distinct from Hetereleotris, as supported by five diagnostic characters, including modified basicaudal scales and reduced sensory papillae patterns. Phylogenetic analysis places Pascua as sister to the Gobiodon group, while Hetereleotris forms a separate clade. The new species, P. marecoralliensis, differs from congeners in fin ray counts, cephalic pore patterns, and head morphology and exhibits unique live colouration. Additionally, we reclassify Hetereleotris readerae and H. sticta as Pascua readerae and P. sticta based on shared genus-specific traits. The distribution of Pascua spans the southern Pacific, suggesting a relict lineage or undiscovered diversity in the genus. This work underscores the importance of integrative taxonomic approaches for resolving cryptic diversity in gobioid fishes and highlights the need for further sampling in understudied regions.
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fishes-10-00449 (1)
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Accepted/In Press date: 26 August 2025
Published date: 4 September 2025
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 505702
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/505702
ISSN: 2410-3888
PURE UUID: f43e71f7-9e6b-4091-b478-946bc1097348
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Date deposited: 16 Oct 2025 16:53
Last modified: 17 Oct 2025 02:13
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Contributors
Author:
Christopher H.R. Goatley
Author:
Andrea I. Varela
Author:
Javier Sellanes
Author:
Luke Tornabene
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