| Distribution: |
Africa: Madagascar, extending from wells near Ambilahilalika, located about midway between Soalara and Efoetse in the north, southward to Nikotsy sinkhole, located just to the north of Itampolo (Ref. 93144). Its presence just north of the Linta River has to be confirmed (Ref. 93144). Also Ref. 6802, 91201. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 5-5; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-9; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 8-8; Vertebrae: 24-25. Diagnosis: This species is distinguished from congeners by the presence of scales extending fully onto head; head is more or less fully scaled, including opercle and subopercle, cheek, snout, preorbital and interorbital regions, and nape (Ref. 93144). Typhleotris madagascariensis is further distinguished from T. mararybe by the absence of pigment on the body and fins, a shorter second predorsal length (56.2-64.1% of standard length vs. 64.9-69.0% of standard length), and a more or less rounded head and snout in dorsal and lateral view vs. strongly concave/indented in orbital region; and from T. pauliani by a pelvic count of I,5 (vs. I,4 in T. pauliani) and the absence of spines in both the second dorsal and anal fins (vs. single spine present in both fins) (Ref. 93144).
Description: A generally small and elongate gobioid, reaching relatively similar adult size as Typhleotris pauliani, although T. madagascariensis has a more elongate and less robust body (Ref. 93144). Body somewhat wide anteriorly and head dorsoventrally compressed, particularly rostrally; head appearing smaller and more rounded than in congeners, which might be due to extent of squamation extending fully onto head; body becoming progressively laterally compressed posteriorly; caudal peduncle laterally compressed, elongate, and relatively shallow (Ref. 93144). Eyes lacking entirely, with ctenoid scales covering orbital opening in skull; snout wide; snout and anterior portion of head markedly elongate and shovellike, with a bony, armored appearance owing to enlarged sensory canals forming platelike subdivisions; on dorsal, lateral, and ventral sides of head numerous deep canals, lined with small pores (Ref. 93144). Anterior nostril short, wide, and tubular, located just posterior to upper lip; posterior nostril more or less slit like, but opening rather wide and oval (Ref. 93144). Mouth large, and gape wide; oral jaw teeth small, conical, and slightly recurved; teeth numerous and arrayed in five or six closely set and irregular rows in anterior portion of mouth, and tapering to fewer rows of teeth posteriorly, as well as medially proximal to synthesis where tooth rows become noticeably constricted in both upper and lower jaws; teeth present along full length of premaxillary arcade and dentary; basihyal large, triangular, and fan shaped (Ref. 93144). Head fully scaled, including snout; squamation extends rostrally to anterior margin of frontal bones, where scale rows become constricted medially; scales sparsely arrayed over lateral ethmoid and median ethmoid; laterally, ctenoid scales extends anteriorly over pterygoid elements to posterior portion of elongate, thin palatine (Ref. 93144).All scales on body and head strongly ctenoid, except on ventrum; cycloid scales on ventrum extend from around anus and urogenital papilla to anterior margin of chest (Ref. 93144). All fins asquamate, except in some individuals a few scales may extend slightly onto base of caudal fin (Ref. 93144). Two dorsal fins; first dorsal fin with 5 spines and second dorsal with 8-9 rays; anal fin with 8 rays; spines lacking in both second dorsal and anal fin, only segmented and branched rays present; pelvic and pectoral fins elongate, with long trailing rays (Ref. 93144).
Colouration: Body without pigment and uniformly white in coloration (Ref. 93144). In life, body is relatively translucent, whereas translucency is lost and body becomes an opaque white in alcohol (Ref. 93144). |