Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Gobiiformes (Gobies) >
Thalasseleotrididae (Ocean sleepers)
Etymology: Tempestichthys: Name from the Latin 'tempestas' (storm; f.), referring to Severe Tropical Cyclone Oma, which passed through the Coral Sea between 11 and 22 February 2019, resulting in rough seas, nausea, and changes to the itinerary of the 2019 Coral Sea Monitoring Program Cruise. The common Greek suffix, -ichthys (fish) is used, making the new genus masculine; bettyae: Named for Mrs E. Goatley, the great aunt of the first author; noun in the genitive.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated. Tropical
Western Pacific: Coral Sea, Australia.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 1.2 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 130190)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 7. This species is distinguished by the following: branchiostegal rays 6; fifth ceratobranchials lack ventral processes; dorsal hemitrichs of the pelvic-fin rays have simple proximal heads; pelvic fins are completely separate, with no anterior frenum or membrane connecting the innermost rays; pectoral fin rays 16; D VI + I,8; A, I,7; ossified but very reduced scapula; scales have a single row of cteni along the scale margins; bony canal support on the preoperculum is extremely reduced; with an interneural gap between the last pterygiophore of the first dorsal fin and the first pterygiophore of the second dorsal fin; epural one; lacks a dorsal postcleithrum; urohyal lacks a ventral shelf; interhyal with disc-shaped lateral structure for articulation with the preoperculum; palatine is close to T-shaped, with a robust ethmoid process, 87% the length of maxillary process; tightly spaced, villiform teeth in multiple rows; premaxilla with two tooth rows to the posterior, increasing to five rows at the anterior; primarily transparent white, with opaque white and crimson red markings; broadly fusiform in shape, with a pointed snout and a laterally compressed head. (Ref, 130190).
The 4 m2 clove oil station was deployed over a reef outcrop surrounded by sand at a depth of 11 m. Enclosed microhabitats included heavily sedimented reef matrix, live branching and massive corals, Halimeda, sand, and overhangs/crevices (Ref. 130190).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Goatley, C.H.R. and L. Tornabene, 2022. Tempestichthys bettyae, a new genus and species of ocean sleeper (Gobiiformes, Thalasseleotrididae) from the central Coral Sea. Systematics and Biodiversity 20(1):1-15. (Ref. 130190)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Tools
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = No PD50 data [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01122 (0.00514 - 0.02450), b=3.04 (2.87 - 3.21), in cm total length, based on all LWR estimates for this body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.9 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
![Image of Tempestichthys bettyae (Betty\](/images/thumbnails/gif/tn_THALAST0.gif "Image of Tempestichthys bettyae (Betty\")
