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In 2024, two new Gobiodon species were described from the waters around Papua New Guinea, Gobiodon cobenjaminsis and Gobiodon bicalvolineatus.
As the only photos of the two species in the attached initial description from the National University of Singapore are protected by copyright, and as these are also the only photos of the two species, we regret that we are unable to include a photo of the two gobies.
However, a photo of a live goby can be viewed on page 497 of the initial description.
Another ‘problem’ is that the depth data of the habitat are unknown, and therefore, unfortunately, no information on water temperature can be provided.
Gobiodon cobenjaminsis has only been observed in the waters around Shuman Island, Wulai Island in Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea, and is considered an endemic species.
Colour:
Gobiodon cobenjaminsis is orange-brown in colour during its lifetime.
There are three to four lighter stripes on the face. Pale slanted spots on the cheeks.
The fins are slightly lighter than the main body and have a black edge and a light line along the base of the dorsal fins.
A black spot is visible on the upper edge of the gill covers.
Habitat.
Gobiodon cobenjaminsis has only been found in the coral species Acropora elseyi (Brook, 1892), making this species highly specialised (Munday et al., 1999).
Distribution.
This species has only been found in Kimbe Bay in Papua New Guinea (Munday et al., 1999).
Etymology:
The species name ‘cobenjaminsis’ was chosen with the Latin ‘co’ for ‘with’ or ‘together’ and “benjaminsis”, where the ending ‘-sis’ comes from Greek and denotes a process or action, to honour the achievements of the Benjamin family at the request of collector Phil Munday, in particular Max Benjamin.
This is in recognition of their contribution to research, the establishment of the field station and marine conservation in Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea, which led to the observation and collection of this species.
We would like to express our sincere thanks to the lead author, Dr Courtney Amber Hildebrandt from the University of Wollongong, who informed us on request that, unfortunately, there are no other photos available for free use apart from the one live photo.
As the only photos of the two species in the attached initial description from the National University of Singapore are protected by copyright, and as these are also the only photos of the two species, we regret that we are unable to include a photo of the two gobies.
However, a photo of a live goby can be viewed on page 497 of the initial description.
Another ‘problem’ is that the depth data of the habitat are unknown, and therefore, unfortunately, no information on water temperature can be provided.
Gobiodon cobenjaminsis has only been observed in the waters around Shuman Island, Wulai Island in Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea, and is considered an endemic species.
Colour:
Gobiodon cobenjaminsis is orange-brown in colour during its lifetime.
There are three to four lighter stripes on the face. Pale slanted spots on the cheeks.
The fins are slightly lighter than the main body and have a black edge and a light line along the base of the dorsal fins.
A black spot is visible on the upper edge of the gill covers.
Habitat.
Gobiodon cobenjaminsis has only been found in the coral species Acropora elseyi (Brook, 1892), making this species highly specialised (Munday et al., 1999).
Distribution.
This species has only been found in Kimbe Bay in Papua New Guinea (Munday et al., 1999).
Etymology:
The species name ‘cobenjaminsis’ was chosen with the Latin ‘co’ for ‘with’ or ‘together’ and “benjaminsis”, where the ending ‘-sis’ comes from Greek and denotes a process or action, to honour the achievements of the Benjamin family at the request of collector Phil Munday, in particular Max Benjamin.
This is in recognition of their contribution to research, the establishment of the field station and marine conservation in Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea, which led to the observation and collection of this species.
We would like to express our sincere thanks to the lead author, Dr Courtney Amber Hildebrandt from the University of Wollongong, who informed us on request that, unfortunately, there are no other photos available for free use apart from the one live photo.
