Two New Genera and Species of Western Atlantic Gobiid Fishes with Vomerine Teeth

Palatogobius paradoxus and Vomerogobius flavus, two new genera and species of western Atlantic Gobiidae, are described and figured. The new taxa are characterized by the presence of vomerine teeth, which until now have been reported only in a relatively few Indo-Pacific goby genera. Despite the common dental characters, Palatogobius and Vomerogobius apparently are not closely related, differing, among other things, in numbers of fin rays (of which the dorsal spines are most significant), morphology of the cephalic lateralis system, and degree of squamation. Palatogobius is known from three specimens from the Virgin Islands and Caribbean Sea, taken at depths of from 21 to 71 m (70-234 ft). It is considered to be most closely related to the new-world genera Microgobius and Bollmannia, although its relationships to these two genera do not appear particularly intimate. Vomerogobius is known from 11 specimens from the Bahamas, collected at depths of from 30 to 42 m (100-140 ft). Its exact relationships are unknown.