Distribution of two closely allied gobies, Gobius bucchichi Steindachner, 1870 and Gobius incognitus Kovačić & Šanda, 2016, along the Turkish coast

Abstract

The current status of two morphologically similar gobies, Gobius bucchichi Steindachner, 1870 and G. incognitus Kovačić & Šanda, 2016, in Türkiye is reviewed in the light of previously published and unpublished data sources. The latter species seems to be very common along the Aegean Sea coast, while its northern Levant distribution is represented by scattered records and requires further research. Gobius bucchichi is currently known only from Saros Bay (northern Aegean Sea) and Marmara Archipelago (Sea of Marmara), but a more comprehensive range should be suspected. This study confirms for the first time the presence of two closely allied gobies in Türkiye based on photographic evidence, filling the information gap to a great extent.