Fewpored Gudgeon

Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 112; Analspines: 1; Analsoft rays: 8 - 9

Inhabits backwaters of rivers and small creeks, swamps, and lily lagoons, usually among thick aquatic vegetation over soft mud bottoms.

Oxyeleotris paucipora

USNM 217293, Holotype, Fly 75–1, 39.4 mm.

USNM 217294, Paratypes, Fly 75–1, 7: 29.0–37.6 mm.

USNM 217295, Paratypes, Fly 75–2, 31: 13.6–37.5 mm.

USNM 217296, Paratypes, Fly 75–4, 6: 9.8–29.9 mm.

USNM 217297, Paratypes, Fly 75–5, 4: 14.0–42.1 mm.

Oxyeleotris paucipora occurs in riverine habitats in the Upper Fly, sometimes sympatrically with O. fimbriata; largest known specimen only 42 mm. Cephalic pore system with nasal pores usually absent (a few specimens with 1 or 2 nasal pores); no orbital pores; 4 preopercular pores; 2 lateral line canal pores. Head relatively depressed. Horizontal diameter of eye 14.918.7 (19: 23.6–42.1 mm). Scales in lateral series 34–37. Total rays in second dorsal fin 12(3), 13(5). Total anal fin rays 9(2), 10(6). Pectoral fin rays 11(1), 12(21), 13(29). Complete vertebral centra 25–27(7).

All of my specimens of O. paucipora are immediately distinguishable from O fimbriata in coloration. On the shoulder, immediately anterior to the fleshy base of the uppermost pectoral fin ray, is a small, pale or white, round area devoid of melanophores. A membranous flap extending from the dorsoposterior corner of the gill cover may overlay and obscure this spot; in live fish the spot presumably could be exposed or hidden by movements of the gill cover. This white spot is surrounded, especially dorsally, by a darkly pigmented, nearly black area, round and as large or larger than the eye. The white spot and the black area surrounding it are clearly visible in the specimen illustrated in Figure 38b, in which the dark area is continuous with a dark longitudinal band extending posteriorly on the body; in most specimens the black area surrounding the white spot is more clearly demarcated. This shoulder mark, born by every specimen, is as obvious at 9.8 mm as at 42 mm. None of my O. fimbriata have such a mark. In O. fimbriata this part of the shoulder is variably pigmented but is usually more or less uniformly covered with melanophores. A few specimens have a very small pale area near the base of the uppermost pectoral fin ray, but it is variable in position and never surrounded by dark or black pigmentation. Some O. paucipora have chevron-shaped marks on the body comparable to those in O. fimbriata but they are fewer, only 9–11. Pectoral and caudal fins either uniformly covered with melanophores, or with melanophores concentrated to form 2–3 vertical bands, the band nearest caudal peduncle most prominent. First and second dorsal and anal fins almost invariably with a well-developed submarginal longitudinal band of black pigment; dorsal fins with variably developed round spots beneath submarginal longitudinal band usually present, sometimes absent or tending to form a second longitudinal band.