Abstract

Karsten, a new genus of amblyopine goby, is distinguished from all other members of the subfamily in having a spinous dorsal fin pterygiophore formula of 3–123, 3–132, or 3–1221+2. The genus is also distinct within the subfamily in having only nine precaudal vertebrae. Karsten lacks eyes as does Amblyotrypauchen, the only other amblyopine genus that is found at depths of 30 m or greater. Karsten has only been collected from Indonesia, the Philippines, and Fiji. Because of its lack of an interneural gap, Karsten is assigned to the “Trypauchen” group; it is compared to other members of this group.