Mugilogobius chulae

Mugilogobius chulae (Smith, 1932) Figures 1B, 2B, 4 Materials Examined NTOUP-2025-11-013, 3 ind., 21.5–28.0 mm SL, water way of Hu-Xi ditch, coll. Z.-X. Luo, 26 September 2025. Diagnosis D2. I, 7; A. I, 7; P1 14; LR. 29–30; TR. 9; Pred. 12–14. D1 with a distinct black spot. Nape with a dark stripe extending downwardly to the pectoral fin bases. Caudal fin base with a pair of small black spots. Redescription Morphometric percentages shown in table 2. Body slightly elongated. Head not distinctly bulbous in both sexes. Mouth slightly oblique, gape distinctly larger in males. Anterior nostril with a tubular opening while the posterior nostril is merely an oval-shaped hole. Vertebrae count 10+16=26 (4). Fins. See table 1 for meristic frequencies. D1 VI (3); D2 I, 7 (3); A I, 7 (3); P1 14 (3); P2 I, 5 (4). First dorsal fin almost rounded in shape, with 2 nd till 4 th spine elongated, 4 th spin elongation longest. D1 elongation is seen in both sexes while distinct in male. Second dorsal fin origin slightly anterior to the anal fin origin. Pelvic fin oval shaped. Caudal fin rounded. Squamation. See table 1 for meristic frequencies. LR 29 (2)–30 (1); TR 9; Pred 12 (1), 13 (2) or 14; D-P 8 (3). Body covered in both ctenoid and cycloid scales. Predorsal region mostly covered in rather large cycloid scales until the vertical of preopercle, and thoracic region with small cycloid scales. Cheeks naked. Dorsal regions of operculum with patches of small cycloid scales. Cephalic sensory organs. See figure 4 for detailed sensory organ patterns. All canal pores absent. Sensory papillae in longitudinal pattern. For the infraorbital papillae rows: row a short, only about 1/3 of orbit; row b extends until the posterior edge of preopercle; row cp slightly shorter that row d. Opercle rows all separated. The chin row f in a pair of 2 transverse rows. Live coloration. See figure 1B. Body almost transparent or slightly dusky. Lateral side with 7 diamond-like spots lines medially. Scales with distinct dark margin. Head with lattice-like markings. Nape with a distinct transverse stripe extending obliquely backwards to pectoral fin base. Another transverse stripe running from middle of D1 base to mid-lateral of trunk. D1 with dusky margin, a distinct oval spot can be seen locating at the posterior 2/3. D2 with dusky margin and a greyish white longitudinal band.Anal fin, pectoral fins and pelvic fins blotchless, anal fin dusky. Caudal fin base with 2 black spots and 2–3 transverse bands near posterior edge of caudal peduncle. ......continued below Coloration in preservatives. Body turns pale and opaque. All dark blotches remained consistent. Distribution and habitat The species was collected at an artificial waterway that was part of the Hu-Xi ditch (ậƌ大ụ). The waterway was connected to the sea, and substrates were mainly composed by dead coral rubbles and mud. Sympatric species being Macrobrachium nipponense De Haan, 1849, Rhinogobius similis Gill, 1859, Terapon jarbua (Forsskål, 1775), Oreochromis spp. and Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758.