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Juvenile morphology and occurrence patterns of three Butis species (Gobioidei: Eleotridae) in a mangrove estuary, southern Thailand

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Abstract

Juveniles of three eleotrid Butis species (B. butis, B. humeralis, and B. koilomatodon) are described; their occurrence patterns were examined in Sikao Creek, a mangrove estuary located in southern Thailand. Juveniles of each species were distinguished by the following characters: B. butis with no bands on body and pale pelvic fins; B. humeralis with no bands on body and densely pigmented pelvic fins; and B. koilomatodon with 5–6 regular bands on body and a fleshy process (preorbital knob) on the snout. Although B. butis shared the aforementioned characters with B. amboinensis found in the same estuary, the former was distinguished from the latter by having a greater number of pectoral fin rays (18–21 vs. 17) and a deeper caudal peduncle. Distribution patterns of the three Butis species in Sikao Creek were distinguishable from each other. Smaller B. butis [mean ± SD = 22.7 ± 16.9 mm in standard length (SL), n = 32] occurred in the upper reach of the estuary, while larger specimens (52.4 ± 26.2 mm SL, n = 18 and 51.5 ± 29.7 mm SL, n = 10, respectively) were found in the middle and lower reaches and none in the marine area. In B. humeralis and B. koilomatodon, only juveniles were caught except for one adult specimen each. Juveniles (8.9–16.5 mm SL, n = 79) of B. humeralis occurred in the upper and middle reaches and the marine area. B. koilomatodon juveniles (9.9–13.7 mm SL, n = 30) were distributed in all areas from the lower to upper reaches.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Ichthyology, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8477, Japan

    Toshihiro Yokoo, Masato Moteki & Hiroshi Kohno

  2. Japan Wildlife Research Center, 3-10-10 Shitaya, Taito-ku, Tokyo, 110-8676, Japan

    Kouki Kanou

  3. Departments of Global Agricultural Sciences, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan

    Prasert Tongnunui & Hisashi Kurokura

Authors
  1. Toshihiro Yokoo
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  2. Kouki Kanou
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  3. Masato Moteki
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  4. Hiroshi Kohno
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  5. Prasert Tongnunui
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  6. Hisashi Kurokura
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Correspondence to Toshihiro Yokoo.

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Yokoo, T., Kanou, K., Moteki, M. et al. Juvenile morphology and occurrence patterns of three Butis species (Gobioidei: Eleotridae) in a mangrove estuary, southern Thailand. Ichthyol Res 53, 330–336 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-006-0354-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-006-0354-2

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