Gouania is a genus of clingfishesendemic to the Mediterranean Sea that contains at least 5 cryptobenthic species.[2] The members of this genus are the only vertebrates to inhabit European intertidal gravel beaches and they have developed many adaptations to survive in this extremely harsh environment.[1] They are a type of Clingfish meaning they form part of the family Gobiesocidae. All species of clingfish have a thoracic adhesive disc that allows them to hold on to both smooth and rough surfaces alike. This adaptation enables Gouania to survive the harsh conditions of gravel beaches, they are amongst the only fish taxa adapted to this habitat.[2]
Formerly, the genus was considered to be a monotypic genus containing the blunt-snouted clingfish, however a 2020 study described three new species and resurrected a synonym of G. willdenowi (G. pigra).[1]
Gouania inhabit the interstitial part of gravel beaches, meaning that they live within the sediment.[4] This demanding intertidal environment supposes extreme conditions such as mechanical stress from waves, desiccation from tides, and anthropogenic activity from tourism.[2] Gouania have passive amphibious emergence behavior which is a common adaptation to desiccation in intertidal marine species.[1] Their domain ranges from the intertidal up to 2 meters in depth.[5]
Distributionedit
All 5 species of Gouania are distributed along the three major Mediterranean Basins. Due to their stationary benthic lifestyle, adults do not have the ability to actively disperse but in their pelagic larval stage, they can passively disperse. Gouania larvae tend to stay close to shore and will rarely enter larger circulation systems that allow distant dispersals. Due to their restricted dispersal ability, each Gouania species has well-defined geographic distributions along the Mediterranean basins.[1]G. adriatica can be found in the Adriatic Sea spanning all the way down to the northern Ionian Sea. The distribution of G. orientalis is limited to the oriental Mediterranean basin. Their range extends all along the Gulf of Corinth, the Aegean Sea, and the islands of Crete and Kythira. G. hofrichteri has the largest range and spreading along the eastern Mediterranean but mostly found in the northern and southern Ionian Sea. G. pigra is only found in the Adriatic Sea and is the only marine species endemic to this area.[1]
Anatomy and morphologyedit
Gouania fish are small, growing up to 6 cm in length.[2] As with most cryptobenthic species, they have an elongated body with small fins and eyes.[1] Gouania was thought to be a monotypic genus partly due to the fact that all species of Gouania look almost identical. Geometric morphometric analyses have played an important role in the identification of species within the genera.[1] There are two main morphotypes: slender-bodied and stout-bodied gouania. Eye size and the number of vertebrae further distinguish the species of Gouania. Gouania has the most vertebrae out of any European clingfish which makes them more flexible. This added flexibility allows Gouania to inhabit gravel beaches with smaller particles.[1]
Speciesedit
There are currently 5 described species in Gouania:[1]
^ abcdefghijWagner, Maximilian; Kovačić, Marcelo; Koblmüller, Stephan (2021). "Unravelling the taxonomy of an interstitial fish radiation: Three new species of Gouania (Teleostei: Gobiesocidae) from the Mediterranean Sea and redescriptions of G. willdenowi and G. pigra". Journal of Fish Biology. 98 (1): 64–88. doi:10.1111/jfb.14558. ISSN 1095-8649. PMC7821206. PMID 32985685.
^ abcdWagner, Maximilian; Bračun, Sandra; Skofitsch, Gerhard; Kovačić, Marcelo; Zogaris, Stamatis; Iglésias, Samuel P.; Sefc, Kristina M.; Koblmüller, Stephan (2019-10-01). "Diversification in gravel beaches: A radiation of interstitial clingfish (Gouania, Gobiesocidae) in the Mediterranean Sea". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 139: 106525. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2019.106525. ISSN 1055-7903. PMID 31158485. S2CID 174807512.
^Herler, J.; Williams, J.T.; Kovacic, M. (2014). "Gouania willdenowi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2014: e.T194960A49087174. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T194960A49087174.en.
^Hofrichter, Robert; Patzner, Robert A. (April 2000). "Habitat and Microhabitat of Mediterranean Clingfishes (Teleostei: Gobiesociformes: Gobiesocidae)". Marine Ecology. 21 (1): 41–53. doi:10.1046/j.1439-0485.2000.00689.x. ISSN 0173-9565.
^Patzner, Robert A. (July 1999). "Habitat Utilization and Depth Distribution of Small Cryptobenthic Fishes (Blenniidae, Gobiesocidae, Gobiidae, Tripterygiidae) in Ibiza (Western Mediterranean Sea)". Environmental Biology of Fishes. 55 (3): 207–214. doi:10.1023/a:1007535808710. ISSN 0378-1909. S2CID 860914.
February 28, 2024
gouania, fish, gouania, genus, clingfishes, endemic, mediterranean, that, contains, least, cryptobenthic, species, members, this, genus, only, vertebrates, inhabit, european, intertidal, gravel, beaches, they, have, developed, many, adaptations, survive, this,. Gouania is a genus of clingfishes endemic to the Mediterranean Sea that contains at least 5 cryptobenthic species 2 The members of this genus are the only vertebrates to inhabit European intertidal gravel beaches and they have developed many adaptations to survive in this extremely harsh environment 1 They are a type of Clingfish meaning they form part of the family Gobiesocidae All species of clingfish have a thoracic adhesive disc that allows them to hold on to both smooth and rough surfaces alike This adaptation enables Gouania to survive the harsh conditions of gravel beaches they are amongst the only fish taxa adapted to this habitat 2 GouaniaBlunt snouted ClingfishScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ActinopterygiiOrder GobiesociformesFamily GobiesocidaeSubfamily GobiesocinaeGenus GouaniaNardo 1833Species 1 See textFormerly the genus was considered to be a monotypic genus containing the blunt snouted clingfish however a 2020 study described three new species and resurrected a synonym of G willdenowi G pigra 1 Contents 1 Etymology 2 Habitat 3 Distribution 4 Anatomy and morphology 5 Species 6 ReferencesEtymology editThe genus is named for the French botanist Antoine Gouan 1733 1821 3 Habitat editGouania inhabit the interstitial part of gravel beaches meaning that they live within the sediment 4 This demanding intertidal environment supposes extreme conditions such as mechanical stress from waves desiccation from tides and anthropogenic activity from tourism 2 Gouania have passive amphibious emergence behavior which is a common adaptation to desiccation in intertidal marine species 1 Their domain ranges from the intertidal up to 2 meters in depth 5 Distribution editAll 5 species of Gouania are distributed along the three major Mediterranean Basins Due to their stationary benthic lifestyle adults do not have the ability to actively disperse but in their pelagic larval stage they can passively disperse Gouania larvae tend to stay close to shore and will rarely enter larger circulation systems that allow distant dispersals Due to their restricted dispersal ability each Gouania species has well defined geographic distributions along the Mediterranean basins 1 G adriatica can be found in the Adriatic Sea spanning all the way down to the northern Ionian Sea The distribution of G orientalis is limited to the oriental Mediterranean basin Their range extends all along the Gulf of Corinth the Aegean Sea and the islands of Crete and Kythira G hofrichteri has the largest range and spreading along the eastern Mediterranean but mostly found in the northern and southern Ionian Sea G pigra is only found in the Adriatic Sea and is the only marine species endemic to this area 1 Anatomy and morphology editGouania fish are small growing up to 6 cm in length 2 As with most cryptobenthic species they have an elongated body with small fins and eyes 1 Gouania was thought to be a monotypic genus partly due to the fact that all species of Gouania look almost identical Geometric morphometric analyses have played an important role in the identification of species within the genera 1 There are two main morphotypes slender bodied and stout bodied gouania Eye size and the number of vertebrae further distinguish the species of Gouania Gouania has the most vertebrae out of any European clingfish which makes them more flexible This added flexibility allows Gouania to inhabit gravel beaches with smaller particles 1 Species editThere are currently 5 described species in Gouania 1 Gouania adriatica Wagner Kovacic amp Koblmuller 2020Gouania hofrichteri Wagner Kovacic amp Koblmuller 2020Gouania orientalis Wagner Kovacic amp Koblmuller 2020Gouania pigra Nardo 1827 Gouania willdenowi Risso 1810 References edit a b c d e f g h i j Wagner Maximilian Kovacic Marcelo Koblmuller Stephan 2021 Unravelling the taxonomy of an interstitial fish radiation Three new species of Gouania Teleostei Gobiesocidae from the Mediterranean Sea and redescriptions of G willdenowi and G pigra Journal of Fish Biology 98 1 64 88 doi 10 1111 jfb 14558 ISSN 1095 8649 PMC 7821206 PMID 32985685 a b c d Wagner Maximilian Bracun Sandra Skofitsch Gerhard Kovacic Marcelo Zogaris Stamatis Iglesias Samuel P Sefc Kristina M Koblmuller Stephan 2019 10 01 Diversification in gravel beaches A radiation of interstitial clingfish Gouania Gobiesocidae in the Mediterranean Sea Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 139 106525 doi 10 1016 j ympev 2019 106525 ISSN 1055 7903 PMID 31158485 S2CID 174807512 Herler J Williams J T Kovacic M 2014 Gouania willdenowi IUCN Red List of Threatened Species IUCN 2014 e T194960A49087174 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2014 3 RLTS T194960A49087174 en Hofrichter Robert Patzner Robert A April 2000 Habitat and Microhabitat of Mediterranean Clingfishes Teleostei Gobiesociformes Gobiesocidae Marine Ecology 21 1 41 53 doi 10 1046 j 1439 0485 2000 00689 x ISSN 0173 9565 Patzner Robert A July 1999 Habitat Utilization and Depth Distribution of Small Cryptobenthic Fishes Blenniidae Gobiesocidae Gobiidae Tripterygiidae in Ibiza Western Mediterranean Sea Environmental Biology of Fishes 55 3 207 214 doi 10 1023 a 1007535808710 ISSN 0378 1909 S2CID 860914 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gouania fish amp oldid 1175332906, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
