Richard Winderbottom: Two new species of Trimma (Gobiidae) from the central, wester, and south Pacific, pp. 45-52

Two new species of the genus Trimma are described. Trimma milta n. sp. is characterized by the presence of scales in the predorsal midline, an unbranched fifth pelvic fin rays which is about half the length of the fourth rays, a lack of elongate spines in the first dorsal fin, a red-brown or yellowish coloration, usually with the scale pockets clearly outlined with melanophores and chromatophores, and, at least in adults, two to three scales on the upper portion of the opercle. Trimma woutsi is distinguished by a white saddle along the dorsal margin of the pectoral base, large irregular spots on the head and body, an elongate dorsal spine, no predorsal scales, and a fifth pelvic fin ray which branches dichotomously 2-3 times.

Ukkrit Satapoomin and Richard Winterbottom: Redescription of the Gobioid Fish Cryptocentrus pavoninoides (Bleeker, 1849), with Notes on Sexual Dichromatism in Shrimp Gobies, pp. 53-64

Cryptocentrus pavoninoides (Bleeker, 1849), a little known gobioid species, is redescribed in detail from the holotype and eleven additional specimens collected from the Gulf of Thailand, Singapore, and southwestern Thailand (Andaman Sea). The species is characterized by two to five ovoid black spots between the first to sixth spines at the mid-height of the first dorsal fin, distinctive black pelvic fins, and blue spots on head. It exhibits sexual dichromatism in which the males have a brownish body background with three vague darker bars and scattered blue spots; while the females possess a yellow body background with 8-10 distinct brow bars and without blue spots along sides of the body. Sexual dichromatism in several other species of shrimp gobies is documented.

Gerald R. Allen and D. Ross Robertson: Halichoeres salmofasciatus, a new species of wrasse (Pisces: Labridae) from Isla del Coco, tropical eastern Pacific, pp. 65-72

Halichoeres salmofasciatus, n. sp., is described from 23 specimens, 28.5-62.9 mm SL, collected at Isla del Coco, Costa Rica, in 1997. Among the 12 other known species of this genus in the tropical eastern Pacific it appears to be most closely related to H. malpelo and H. melanotis, but differs from both those species in maximum size, colour pattern, and certain meristics. The terminal phase adult of H. salmofasciatus has an olive back, an indistinct dark olive stripe along the body at eye level, and a pale orange tail with a broad, grey terminal edge. The initial phase adult of H. salmofasiatus in pale grey and white with two salmon red stripes running along the length of the body (one at eye level and a narrower one along the upper black), two black spots within the midlateral stripe (one on the opercular membrane, the other on the caudal peduncle), and a pale orange tail.

Bertran M. Feitoza, Thelma L. P. Dias, Luiz A. Rocha, and João Luiz Gasparini: First records of cleaning activity in the slippery dick, Halichoeres bivittatus (Perciformes: Labridae), off northeastern Brazil, pp. 73-76

Cleaing behaviour is reported in Halichoeres bivittatus for the first time, off Paraíba coast, northeastern Brazil. Six species of clients were cleaned by one to three cleaners, similar in size, in one of two ways: stationary at a cleaning station or whilst swimming over a relatively large area. In each situation, the cleaning events lasted from 2 to 5 seconds. Following behaviour associated with mobile cleaning events was observed and the two activities seem to be related. On the basis of our observations of Halichoeres bivittatus, we consider this labrid to be a ”substrate picker’, a non-specialized form of cleaner fish.

John E. Randall, Robert F. Myers, and Richard Winterbottom: Melichthys indicus x M. vidua, a hybrid triggerfish (Tetraodontiformes: Balistidae) from Indonesia, pp. 77-80

The hybrid of the triggerfishes Melichthys indicus and M. viduai is reported from two underwater photographs taken at Bali, Indonesia and a single specimen collected in the Chagos Archipelago. This constitutes the first record of a hybrid for the family Balistidae.

Daphne J. Martin: fish Consumption in a midieval English bishop's household, 1406-7, pp. 81-88

The accounts of a fifteeth-century English bishop give details of the fish eaten in is Wiltshire household on meatless days, comprising twenty-five species of fish, and seven types of crustaceans and gastropods. This reflects the advances in ship building and fishing methods. The servants were fed imported smoked and pickled North Sea herring, ad salted and dried Icelandic cod, supplied by the Hanseatic league of German ports. The bishop, his guests and household officials ate a variety of fresh marine and freshwater species, caught in the English Channel and Severn estuary and in local rivers. The daily fish ration was 0.5-1 kg and the total annual cost of the fish was nearly 5% of the bishop÷s income.