4): cycloid scales tend to be more quadrangular or roundish (Fig.
Cycloid scales. The scale plate edge is smooth posteriorly and laterally, but uneven anteriorly to varying degrees.
The new species differs from all other members of the genus, including the 15 species reported by Allen & Erdmann (2012) from the East Indian region in having a full complement of
cycloid scales on the preoperculum as well as a small patch of three scales on the upper operculum.
Diagnosis: Bollmannia can be distinguished from other Gobiosomatini genera by the following combination of characters, not listed in order of taxonomic importance: first dorsal of most species with black spot or blotch on posterior portion of fin; second dorsal I,11-15; anal I,10-15; pelvic fins with well-developed frenum supported with collagenous thickenings, frenum with scalloped posterior margin; caudal fin lanceolate; trunk scales ctenoid; predorsal region, cheek, pectoral fin base and breast with cycloid scales; predorsal scales 7-10.
Scales: trunk completely covered with ctenoid scales, ctenii becoming larger posteriorly; predorsal region, cheek, operculum, pectoral fin base and pelvic fin base with scattered cycloid scales; lateral scale rows 27-31; transverse scale rows 7; predorsal scales 9-10, scales extending anteriorly to vertical behind eye; caudal peduncle scales 11-13; no modified basicaudal scales present.
Lateral scales 23; anterior transverse scales 7-8-8.5 ([bar.x] = 8.1, SD = 0.37); posterior transverse scales 7-8-8.5 ([bar.x] = 7.5, SD = 0.41); predorsal scales 8-9 ([bar.x] = 8.2, SD = 0.39); no scales on cheek; opercle with single row of 2-3 usually ctenoid scales; pectoral base with usually 3 vertical rows of scales and 4 cycloid scales in posterior row; 5-7-8 ([bar.x] = 6.4, SD = 0.79) cycloid prepelvic scales (in midline anterior to basal membrane); 11-12 ([bar.x] = 11.9, SD = 0.3) circumpeduncular scales; body scales ctenoid except for cycloid scales on anterior belly midline and on, beneath and just posterior to pectoral fin base; body scales extending anteriorly to just behind eye.
papayum in meristic values and in general shape, but adults have 2-3 cycloid scales on the cheek.
Cheek naked or with one or two minute embedded cycloid scales; operculum naked or with 1-5 small embedded cycloid scales.
Body covered with cycloid scales. Head largely naked, midline of nape with scales extending to above preoperculum, operculum and preoperculum naked or with a few small embedded scales.
Cheek posteriorly with 2 (1), 3 (8), 4 (1) rows of small
cycloid scales, anteriorly naked; posterior to orbit one row of ctenoid scales.
Operculum and cheek without scales, midline of nape usually naked, but sometimes with 1-5 rows across midline anteriorly, sides of nape scaled to point above posterior end of operculum to posterior end of eye; pectoral base covered with 6-9
cycloid scales in 2 vertical and 4 horizontal rows, posterodorsal 2 scales slightly enlarged, scales often missing in preserved specimens; prepelvic area largely scaled in 5-6 rows of
cycloid scales.
Suboperculum fully covered with
cycloid scales; interoperculum fully covered by one row of
cycloid scales; cheeks fully scaled; postorbital squamation with two rows of different-sized scales; size of occipital scales not significantly smaller than dorsal scales; predorsal squamation pattern irregular; cycloid and weakly ctenoid scales on dorsum rostrally, more strongly ctenoid scales increasing caudally; flanks with strongly ctenoid scales (Fig.