THE LATERAL LINE SYSTEM OF TWO SYMPATRIC EASTERN PACIFIC GOBIID FISHES OF THE GENUS LYTHRYPNUS (TELEOSTEI: GOBIIDAE)

摘要

Lythrypnus dalli (Gilbert, 1890) and Lythrypnus zebra (Gilbert, 1890) occur sympatri-cally in rocky subtidal habitats of the eastern Pacific, but occupy distinct microhabitats. The two species belong to different species complexes. We were interested if the differences in microhabitat use of these two gobiids correspond to differences in the pattern of the lateral line system, which is represented by relatively few and large free neuromasts. The neuromast pattern is similar in both gobies with few, but characteristic differences. These differences also occur among other species of the two species complexes (i.e., Lythrypnus cobalus and Lythrypnus gilberti of the Lythrypnus dalli complex and Lythrypnus pulchellus and Lythrypnus rhizophora of the Lythrypnus rhizophora complex) and support the recognition of east Pacific species in two species complexes. The topography of the free neuromasts and their innervation is described for Lythrypnus dalli and Lythrypnus zebra.