Abstract

– We describe a new species of the progenetic gobiid fish genus Schindleria from Rapa Nui (Easter island, chile). Schindleria squirei n. sp. belongs to the long dorsal-fin type (LDF) of Schindleria. the new species is characterized by an in vivo translucent, elongate and slender body; a dorsal fin longer than the anal fin (predorsal-fin length 60.2% in SL vs. preanal-fin length 70.4% in SL); a short tail (29.8% in SL); a short (10.9% in SL) and massive head (48.7% width in head length) with a convex dorsal profile; a long and relative narrow pectoral-radial plate (52.4% width of pectoral-radial plate length); 20-21 dorsal-fin rays; 12 anal-fin rays; first anal-fin ray situated opposite the dorsal-fin ray 9-10; teeth on both jaws tiny, conical, densely set; a straight, thin, rod-like maxilla, posteriorly flattened, and with a plate-like expansion; a lower jaw which forms a wide arch with a truncated, at the symphysis somewhat dented, margin and only slightly exceeding the upper jaw; black eyes; a dorsally pigmented swim-bladder; and no other external pigmentation on its body, in preserved specimens.