Hypseleotris

Hypseleotris cyprinoides

The genus Hypseleotris houses about a dozen freshwater goby from the family of Schläfergrundeln who remember with their laterally compressed body shape to small carp (Cyprinidae ).

Features

The genus is characterized by several morphological features. Marks are a strongly laterally compressed head and body, a small mouth that does not extend to the front edge of the orbit, an elongated body cavity with multiple anal fins carriers, the first hemalen spinous process (ventral hemal spine ) precede, and an egg-shaped spot on the rear base of the pectoral fin.

Occurrence and Habitat

The genus Hypseleotris has a large distribution area from South Africa to Japan and Southeast Asia to Australia. The type H. cyprinoides comes there remains widespread, while H. compressa is known only from Australia and New Guinea. The occurrence of the other species are locally restricted to Australia. Most species live permanently in fresh water, even though the species with large distribution area have a certain salt water tolerance and their larval development takes place by drifting in coastal, saline water bodies.

The systematics of about a dozen species within the genus Hypseleotris, especially the extra- Australian species, is still the subject of research. Fish Base listed 16 species within the genus Hypseleotris while Thacker Unmack ( 2005), using morphological and molecular studies H. dayi, H. leuciscus ( Bleeker, 1853), H. tohizonae Steindachner, 1880 and H. guentheri ( Bleeker, 1875) regarded as separate species, but as a synonym for Hypseleotris cyprinoides. The genus affiliation of the species Hypseleotris compressocephalus Chen & Zheng, 1985 from China, Hypseleotris everetti ( Boulenger, 1895) and Hypseleotris hotayensis (May, 1978) from northern Vietnam is doubtful. The museum specimens of H. Pangel Herre, 1927 have disappeared since the Second World War, so that a validation of this kind is virtually impossible.

Species from the Kimberley region (Australia), most closely related to H. compressa:

• Hypseleotris barrawayi Larson, 2007 area of the headwaters of the Katherine River ( Northern Territory )
• Hypseleotris ejuncida Hoese & Allen, 1983, the territory of the Prince Regent River (Western Australia)
• Hypseleotris kimberleyensis Hoese & Allen, 1983, the territory of the Barnett River Fitzroy River system (Western Australia)
• Hypseleotris regalis Hoese & Allen, 1983, the territory of the upper reaches of the Prince Regent and the Roe River (Western Australia)

Other types:

• Hypseleotris aurea ( Shipway, 1950), area of the Murchison River and Gascoyne River (Western Australia)
• Hypseleotris compressa ( Krefft, 1864), lower reaches and coastal rivers of north- eastern Australia and to Südneuguinea
• Hypseleotris cyprinoides ( Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1837)
• Hypseleotris galii ( Ogilby, 1898), coastal rivers in eastern Australia
• Hypseleotris klunzingeri ( Ogilby, 1898), on the east coast of Australia and the Murray -Darling river system

The genus, that is, an ancestor of H. cyprinoides, has probably originally spread from Southeast Asia about marine habitats to Australia. There, the Australian freshwater species have developed, which form a monophyletic group. A clade spread in the north- west (North Coast and Kimberley, Pilbara ), another in the south-east Australia ( East Coast and Murray -Darling Basin) from. From there are still other undescribed species known.