A new species of Schindleria (Teleostei: Gobiiformes: Gobiidae) from the Red Sea (Saudi Arabia) with a specialized caudal-fin complex

Species of the gobiid genus Schindleria are among smallest and fastest reproducing vertebrates oceans. We describe a new species, qizma , from Red Sea, Saudi Arabia. It is an extreme example progenesis, within already paedomorphic genus, with morphological traits clearly differentiating it its congeners. has unique, unflexed notochord straight urostyle which tip inserted into hypural cartilage, rather than typical flexed upturned other species . belongs to short dorsal-fin type further characterized by elongated but relatively deep body; dorsal fin originating just slightly anterior anal (predorsal-fin length 59.4% SL vs. preanal-fin 60.2% SL); head continuously increasing in depth posteriorly profile; snout (18.6% length); large eyes (34.4% pectoral-radial plate (6.3% 13 rays; 11 anal-fin 0–2 procurrent rays (where last ray short, if present); first situated opposite second ray; toothless oral jaws; females few (10–11, total) very (4.6% SL) eggs conspicuous urogenital papilla wide opening flanked two long, bilobed projections; dorsally pigmented swim-bladder; blackish, iridescent eyes, capped silvery layer irregular rows black dots or blotches; no additional external pigmentation on body, at least preserved specimens.