What species make up the Nike fish assemblages at the macrotidal estuary in Gorontalo Bay, Indonesia?

Abstract

<ns4:p> <ns4:bold>Background:</ns4:bold> No study has documented the species composition of Nike fish (fam: Gobiidae) schools. The aim of this study is to document the species composition of the Nike-fish schooling. </ns4:p> <ns4:p> <ns4:bold>Methods:</ns4:bold> All samples were collected randomly from fisher’s catch during the fishing season on 5th–11th October 2018 at macrotidal area in Leato. Then, all specimens were identified morphologically by melanophore pattern differences. Subsequently, all identified-samples by melanophores pattern differences were sent to the genetic laboratory for identification. </ns4:p> <ns4:p> <ns4:bold>Results:</ns4:bold> The morphological results show there are five individuals with a different melanophores pattern. On the contrary, the genetic results only show four species from those five individuals. They are <ns4:italic>Sicyopterus pugnans, S. cynocephalus, Belobranchus segura,</ns4:italic> and <ns4:italic>Bunaka gyrinoides</ns4:italic> . </ns4:p> <ns4:p> <ns4:bold>Conclusions:</ns4:bold> Our findings show that there are only four species that compose the Nike fish schooling in Gorontao Bay. They are <ns4:italic>Sicyopterus pugnans, Sicyopterus cynocephalus, Belobranchus segura,</ns4:italic> and <ns4:italic>Bunaka gyrinoides</ns4:italic> . </ns4:p>