Andrew J. Green / Reef Life Survey
Info
Valenciennea alleni Hoese & Larson, 1994
With Valenciennea alleni the last of the missing Valenciennea gobies could be completed.
Sometimes it takes a long time until a discovered species is scientifically described for the first time. The holotype of Valenciennea alleni was discovered on April 20, 1979 in the waters off Queensland, but the actual description took place only on April 23, 1994 by Dr. Jack (John) Ernest Randall and Dr. Helen Larson, thus after all 15 years later!
Valenciennea alleni is only known from northern Australia: from Shark Bay in Western Australia to Decapolis Reef in Queensland, it occurs everywhere in muddy areas and in adjacent rocks and coral areas.
In the Great Barrier Reef, it is known only from turbulent nearshore reefs.
Variation:
This species exhibits considerable variation in pectoral ray and gill faker counts, these are higher in specimens from Western Australia than in specimens from Queensland, with specimens from the Northern Territory more or less in between.
Northern Territory and Western Australian specimens differ from Queensland specimens in that the upper dark eye stripe continues for a short distance on the body, whereas in Queensland specimens it ends at the head.
The dark interorbital stripe is more pronounced in Western Australian specimens. In the solid-colored Western Australian specimens, the light head stripe and lower body stripe are yellowish rather than yellowish-orange as in the Queensland specimens.
Similarity to other species:
Valenciennea alleni has similarities in fin ray and scale number, color pattern, and dorsal fin shape to Valenciennea immaculata and Valenciennea limicola, which have a black spot on the first dorsal fin.
Valenciennea alleni usually has a higher first dorsal fin than the other two species, which also have the black spot on the first dorsal fin, but differs in having fewer body stripes and a higher number of second dorsal and anal rays.
Similar species:
Valenciennea immaculata, with stripe pattern on head, but with black spot on tip of dorsal fin and only 1 stripe along side (often faint or with indistinct lower margin).
Valenciennea immaculata, occurs in similar habitats to Valenciennea muralis, but the two species have not been observed using the same habitats, other similarities are with Valenciennea limicola.
Named in honor of Dr. Gerry R. Allen in recognition of his contribution to Australian ichthyology.
Jumping guard
A jumping guard prevents (nocturnal) fish from jumping out.
Wrasses, blennies, hawkfishs and gobies jump out of an unprotected tank in fright if their night rest is disturbed, unfortunately these jumpers are found dried up in the morning on carpets, glass edges or later behind the tank.
https://www.korallenriff.de/en/article/1925_5_Jump_Protection_Solutions_for_Fish_in_the_Aquarium__5_Net_Covers.html
A small night light also helps, as it provides the fish with a means of orientation in the dark!
With Valenciennea alleni the last of the missing Valenciennea gobies could be completed.
Sometimes it takes a long time until a discovered species is scientifically described for the first time. The holotype of Valenciennea alleni was discovered on April 20, 1979 in the waters off Queensland, but the actual description took place only on April 23, 1994 by Dr. Jack (John) Ernest Randall and Dr. Helen Larson, thus after all 15 years later!
Valenciennea alleni is only known from northern Australia: from Shark Bay in Western Australia to Decapolis Reef in Queensland, it occurs everywhere in muddy areas and in adjacent rocks and coral areas.
In the Great Barrier Reef, it is known only from turbulent nearshore reefs.
Variation:
This species exhibits considerable variation in pectoral ray and gill faker counts, these are higher in specimens from Western Australia than in specimens from Queensland, with specimens from the Northern Territory more or less in between.
Northern Territory and Western Australian specimens differ from Queensland specimens in that the upper dark eye stripe continues for a short distance on the body, whereas in Queensland specimens it ends at the head.
The dark interorbital stripe is more pronounced in Western Australian specimens. In the solid-colored Western Australian specimens, the light head stripe and lower body stripe are yellowish rather than yellowish-orange as in the Queensland specimens.
Similarity to other species:
Valenciennea alleni has similarities in fin ray and scale number, color pattern, and dorsal fin shape to Valenciennea immaculata and Valenciennea limicola, which have a black spot on the first dorsal fin.
Valenciennea alleni usually has a higher first dorsal fin than the other two species, which also have the black spot on the first dorsal fin, but differs in having fewer body stripes and a higher number of second dorsal and anal rays.
Similar species:
Valenciennea immaculata, with stripe pattern on head, but with black spot on tip of dorsal fin and only 1 stripe along side (often faint or with indistinct lower margin).
Valenciennea immaculata, occurs in similar habitats to Valenciennea muralis, but the two species have not been observed using the same habitats, other similarities are with Valenciennea limicola.
Named in honor of Dr. Gerry R. Allen in recognition of his contribution to Australian ichthyology.
Jumping guard
A jumping guard prevents (nocturnal) fish from jumping out.
Wrasses, blennies, hawkfishs and gobies jump out of an unprotected tank in fright if their night rest is disturbed, unfortunately these jumpers are found dried up in the morning on carpets, glass edges or later behind the tank.
https://www.korallenriff.de/en/article/1925_5_Jump_Protection_Solutions_for_Fish_in_the_Aquarium__5_Net_Covers.html
A small night light also helps, as it provides the fish with a means of orientation in the dark!
