On the occurrence of the Black Spine-cheek Gudgeon Eleotris melanosoma Bleeker in Sri Lankan waters, with comments on the Green-backed Guavina Bunaka gyrinoides (Bleeker) (Teleostei: Eleotridae)

Abstract

A new record of Black Spine-cheek Gudgeon Eleotris melanosoma Bleeker is provided from the southern and western coasts of Sri Lanka. This species was previously confused with two closely resembling eleotrid species—E. fusca (Bloch & Schneider in Bloch) and Bunaka gyrinoides (Bleeker) of Sri Lanka. It is speculated that records of E. melanosoma juveniles from coastal areas and B. gyrinoides from inland freshwater habitats appear to be the elevated locality records of E. fusca in Sri Lanka. Data are provided to distinguish Eleotris melanosoma from E. fusca and from B. gyrinoides, to clarify their taxonomy, and also discuss their distribution and natural history. This study adds two new records of fishes to the Sri Lankan freshwater fish list. Previous records of Eleotris fusca from Sri Lanka have to be clarified in future studies.

Keywords

• brackish water fish
• eleotris fusca
• broadhead sleeper.