RESEARCH ARTICLE

Unguitrema nigrum, a new genus and species of clingfish (Teleostei: Gobiesocidae) from Madang, Papua New Guinea

Ronald Fricke

Abstract

The clingfish Unguitrema nigrum gen. nov. et sp. nov. is described on the basis of two specimens from Madang Lagoon, Papua New Guinea. The species is very small, apparently not exceeding 12 mm total length. It is characterized by 9 dorsal-fin rays, 7-8 anal-fin rays, 22-23 pectoral-fin rays, and 12 principal caudal-fin rays; plain black colour without white stripes; a short head with head length 4.7-4.9 in SL; a narrow head with head width 7.5-8.5 in SL; a posteriorly situated anus, with the disc-to-anus distance 3.2-3.5 in SL; three rows of papillae distally on disc region B; and two central papillae clusters on disc region B with only two papillae each. The new genus is distinctive for unusual central short claw-like appendages within some papillae.