Gobiosoma, Girard, 1858

Gobiosoma View in CoL clade sensu Rüber et al., 2003

Te Gobiosoma View in CoL clade in the composition of Rüber et al. (2003) is here understood to contain the genera Enypnias , Garmannia , and Gobiosoma View in CoL . A recent phylogenetic study by Tornabene and van Tassell (2014) suggests that Enypnias is nested within Gobiosoma View in CoL and hence would be a synonym. Te position and extent of Garmannia also appears to vary, and Rüber et al. (2003) show the genus as non-monophyletic in their cladogram. We have retained all three nominal genera because of the differing otolith pattern with that of the nominal genus Enypnias probably representing the most plesiomorphic one with its parallelogram-like otolith shape ( Fig. 36a–d View Fig ). Te otoliths of the genera Gobiosoma View in CoL ( Fig. 36g –o View Fig ) and Garmannia ( Fig. 36f View Fig ) are more compressed in shape with a typically depressed predorsal angle and a “simplified” sulcus pattern. Te otolith of Gobiosoma chiquita (Jenkins & Evermann, 1889) View in CoL ( Fig. 36g View Fig ) occupies a morphologically intermediate pattern.

Te three genera contain among them 19 extant species. Otoliths are only known from a few of them: Enypnias aceras Ginsburg, 1939 View in CoL ( Fig. 36a View Fig ), Enypnias seminudus (Günther, 1861) View in CoL ( Fig. 36b–d View Fig ), Garmannia schultzi Ginsburg, 1944 View in CoL ( Fig. 36f View Fig ), Gobiosoma chiquita (Jenkins & Evermann, 1889) View in CoL ( Fig. 36g View Fig ), Gobiosoma bosc (Lacepède, 1800) View in CoL ( Fig. 36h–k View Fig ), and Gobiosoma robustum Ginsburg 1933 View in CoL ( Fig. 36m –o View Fig ). In consequence, we have refrained from specific identifications of any of the fossil otoliths attributed to these genera except for one highly characteristic case from the Late Miocene. Another hindering aspect in identifying isolated otoliths of this clade is their small size, which causes them to be easily confused with otoliths of juveniles of larger gobies. It is likely that further unrecognized Gobiosoma View in CoL otoliths are contained among the many unidentifiable small goby otoliths.

Te fishes of the genera Gobiosoma and Enypnias occur mostly in shallow near-shore environments, for instance in mangrove and tide pools or rocky environments. Several species inhabit freshwater and brackish waters or are euryhaline.