Burrowing Goby fish recorded from coastal area of Bangladesh

Gobiids are poorly explored in the freshwater's of Bangladesh. Gobies of the genus are also known as eel gobies which belong to the family Gobiidae, which alludes to their attenuated body shape. These species inhabits estuaries (Talwer and Jhingran, 1991), shallow coastal water and rivers (Allen, 1991). This group is morphologically unique among Gobiidae, having an elongate body, small eyes covered with skin and numerous distinct dermal folds, lobes, or barbels on the head. Fourteen nominal species were recognized in the genus  Taenioidess. str. (Murdy and Randall, 2002). Measurements were made from Gobiidae specimens preserved in 70% ethanol for taxonomic study. Some of these are mentioned following the comprehensive systematic accounts of the Inland Fishes of the Indian Region and Adjacent countries (Talwar and Jhingran, 1991) and Freshwater Fishes of the World (Sterba, G. 1962).

Scientific Name : Trypauchen vagina (Bloch and Schneider, 1801); Local name: Sada Chewa; English name: Burrowing Goby
During the study a total of 6 specimens of Trypauchen vagina (Bloch and Schneider, 1801) species have counted individually and comparatively described below with distribution and taken original photograph.

Trypauchen vagina (Bloch and Schneider, 1801)  © Md.Muzammel Hossain

Taxonomic position: Phylum: Chordata-chordates; Class: Actinopterygii-ray finned fishes, spiny rayed fishes; Order: Perciformes- perch like fishes; Family: Gobiidae –true gobies, gobies, Genus: Trypauchen Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1837; Species: Trypauchen vagina (Bloch and Schneider, 1801).

Distribution: Trypauchen vagina (Bloch and Schneider, 1801) species were found inhabits holes beneath tide pools and mud habitats in the near shore areas of Hatiya and Nijhum Island area of junction between Meghna River and Sea and GPS location 22̊ 02 ́ 30.6 ̋ N, 90̊  58 ́ 24.5 ̋ E. Also it was recorded in Pasur River is near the Sundarbans in Bagerhat, Mongla 22.4833°N, 89.6083°E; Bhola and Cox’s bazaar estuaries area.

Description: Morphometric  measurements  are as follows, Number of Fin Rays/Spines: Total dorsal fin rays 50-57; Pectoral Fin Rays 17;  Pelvic Fin Rays 12; Anal Fin Rays 44-50; Caudal Fin Rays 14; Mouth position Superior; Branchiostegal Rays 5; Body measurement: Maximum Total Length 14.4 cm and standard length 12.3 cm ; Pre-Dorsal length 2.51 cm;  Body Depth 1.34 cm; Head measurement: Eye diameter 2.0 mm; Pre Orbital Length 5.4 mm; Post Orbital Length 14.0 mm; Inter Orbital Length 3.6 mm; Fin base length: 1^st Dorsal Fin Base length 96 mm; Pectoral Fin Base Length 4.2 mm and Pectoral Fin length 7.2 mm; Pelvic Fin base length 2.9 mm and Pelvic Fin length 8.2 mm; Anal fin Base length 58 mm; Scales Above Lateral Line 75–85; Scales Below Lateral Line 6⅟2; Scales along lateral line 6⅟2. Body is pinky-white, compressed elongate and eyes blackish; barbell absent on head; Cycloid scales; Teeth in both jaws and caninoid; gill opening moderate; Pectoral short conical. Dorsal and anal fins grey; dorsal and anal connected with caudal fin; the species is not listed endangered in the Red List of IUCN Bangladesh (2000).

Meristic measurements are as follows: SL/TL= 0.854; HL/SL = 0.203; Pelvic Fin length (PEL)/SL = 0.066; PEL/HL = 0.328;   Pectoral Fin length (PEC)/SL= 0.058; PEC/HL = 0.288; PEC/PEL = 0.878; Body Depth (BD)/SL = 0.108; Pre-Dorsal length (PDL)/SL = 0.204; Inter Orbital Length (IOL)/SL = 0.029.

References:  1. STERBA, G. 1962. Freshwater Fishes of the World. Vista Books, London. 847 pp. 2. TALWAR, P.K. and JHINGRAN, A.G. 1991. Inland Fishes of India and Adjacent Countries. Vol. 1 & 2. Oxford & IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, India. 1158 pp. 3. MURDY EO and RANDALL JE 2002. Taenioides kentalleni, a new species of eel goby from Saudi Arabia (Gobiidae: Amblyopinae). Zootaxa 93: 1–6. 4. IUCN Bangladesh. 2000. Red Book of Threatened Fishes of Bangladesh. IUCN-The World Conservation Union. Xii+116pp.

Author information : Md. Muzammel Hossain, Department of Zoology, Jagannath University, Bangladesh (Corresponding email: muzammel3@gmail.com)