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Zoology Publications from Victoria University of Wellington—Nos. 54 to 57

Introduction

Introduction

Trachelochismus melobesia Phillipps, 1927, is an endemic lumpfish (Family Gobiesocidae) not uncommon on the shore in semi-exposed rock and rubble areas in the Cook Strait region of New Zealand. It is found throughout the inter-tidal zone but appears to be most abundant near the upper low-tide level. Adults rarely attain lengths of more than 30 mm s.l. Trachelochismus pinnulatus (Forster) is also found in areas inhabited by T. melobesia. However, the adult of T. pinnulatus (maximum size 71.2 mm s.l.) is larger than that of T. melobesia, and lacks the reddish-purple patch on the dorsal surface, a character which readily identifies the latter species. Flattened papillae occur on the central region of the sucker disc of T. melobesia (Fig. 4), but are absent in T. pinnulatus. The two species are further distinguished by fin ray counts (Briggs, 1955: 19–20) as follows: —

T. melobesia D 10 (9–11), A 8 (7–8), PI 23 (22–24), C 12.

T. pinnulatus D 8 (7–9), A 6 (5–7), PI 25 (24–26), C 12 (11–12).

The present study describes the egg and larval development of T. melobesia. The life history of T. pinnulatus has been studied by Coakley (1964), and Graham (1939, 1953) has briefly described the egg and prolarval stages of Diplocrepis puniceus (Richardson, 1846), a further gobiesocid known from the New Zealand seashore. The family is otherwise poorly known in respect of early life history. However, comprehensive accounts of the life history of the South American clingfish Gobiesox strumosus Cope, 1870 are given in Runyan (1961: 113–141) and Dovel (1963: 161–166).