Obliquogobius bathyalis Fricke, 2022
New Caledonian deep-water goby

Family:  Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobiinae
Max. size:  3.25 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathydemersal; marine; depth range 264 - 350 m
Distribution:  Western Central Pacific: New Caledonia.
Diagnosis:  This species can be distingusihed from its congeners by the following set of characters: D2 I,8; A1,8 or I,9; head length 29.4-36.7% of SL; eye diameter 41.5-52.35 of head length; longitudinal scale rows 24-26; transverse scale rows 9-10; predorsal scales absent; scales on lateral surface of nape absent; postorbital pore G absent (from anterior oculoscapular canal); gill opening wide; caudal fin asymmetrical dorsoventrally, rays of upper half much longer than compared to lower half, giving obliquely pointed appearance. Colouration: Head and body sand yellow, eyes dark gray. Snout and region before upper end of pectoral-fin base dusky. Sides of body with 4 (4-5) short vertical bars above anal-fin base. Prominent large, rounded dark spot on centre of caudal-fin base. Dorsal- and anal-fin spines and rays basally with small gray spots. D1 fin distally with large black blotch (Ref. 128939).
Biology:  A deep-water goby species collected with bottom trawls at 264-350 m depth (Ref. 128939).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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