The pattern of the mechanosensory lateral line on the caudal fin of the two deep‐water gobiid fishes Deltentosteus collonianus and Deltentosteus quadrimaculatus (Teleostei: Gobiidae)

The most common pattern of the lateral line system on the caudal fin of Gobiidae is characterized by three longitudinal rows of free neuromasts. Deltentosteus collonianus and Deltentosteus quadrimaculatus are two benthic Atlantic–Mediterranean gobiid fishes with additional rows on the caudal fin. In these species the caudal fin is more densely covered by the lateral line system compared to the usual status in Gobiidae. An increase of longitudinal neuromast rows occurs rarely in gobiid fishes and is only known in a few species of Gobiidae with a pelagic lifestyle. Both Deltentosteus species show numbers of neuromast rows on the caudal fin between the plesiomorphic three and the advanced eight rows of pelagic gobies. This intermediate position allows discussion of the existence and the characteristics of an underlying pattern in the increase of the number of longitudinal neuromast rows and adaptation to habitat conditions in Gobiidae.