A new species of mesophotic Fusigobius goby (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from eastern Papua New Guinea

Fusigobius tranversus, n. sp. is described from a single female specimen, 26.6 mm SL, collected at mesophotic depths, at 62 m on a steep outer-reef slope at Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea. It clearly differs from all currently recognized members of the genus in having a well-developed transverse pattern (vertical rows) of cheek papillae rather than a generic pattern of a reduced transverse series, i.e. a single vertical row below the eye and short horizontal rows behind the jaws and across the cheek. Other features include dorsal-fin elements VI +I,9; anal-fin elements I,9; pectoral-fin rays 18; gill rakers 1+9; the body with finely ctenoid scales, except for the pectoral-fin base and prepelvic area with embedded cycloid scales, the head and nape scaleless; the first dorsal fin elevated anteriorly, without filamentous spines, the second dorsal-fin spine slightly longer than the first and third spines; the pelvic fins united to form a disc and a weakly developed ventral frenum. Its color pattern is similar to most congeners except for a prominent greenish-yellow band and a broad dark outer margin on the anterior first dorsal fin.