Vanderhorstia is a group of little known gobies in the aquarium world, which is a shame because the genus contains many interesting and eye catching species, with two more recently added to the group. Vanderhorstia cyanolineata and V. fulvopelvis are two new species of these fancy little gobies, these being collected and described from Japanese specimens.
Vanderhorstia cyanolineata, is a cute blue-lined little goby which is a little on the small side for the genus, their fairy like appearance reminding us more of little dartfish like Tryssigobius and Ptereleotris. While the species description of V. cyanolineata lists this species as occuring in Japan and Indonesia, we were able to dig up a few photos of it photographed in Palau at a depth of 22m, about 7o feet deep.
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There’s only one photo of the other new species of Vanderhorstia, V. fulvopelvis, but this slightly larger species seems to be concealing a lot of really exquisite coloration. In addition to the namesake yellow pair of pelvic fins, Vanderhorstia fulvopelvis sports a beautiful pattern of yellow lines and scribbles on its flank that look like they could make this species a stunner.
Known only from Okinawa Japan, V. fulvopelvis is most closely related to V. ornatissima although it seems the new species has potential for a lot more color than its congener. Both of the new species of Vanderhorstia are unique in being dwarf-sized for the genus meaning that they could make for some fantastic aquarium specimens should they ever enter into the trade.
The two new species of Japanese Vanderhorstia are described by Toshiyuki Suzuki1 and I-Shiung Chen int he 21st volume of the Journal of Marine Science and Technology.
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