Family THALASSELEOTRIDIDAE Gill & Mooi 2012 (Ocean Sleepers)

Updated 24 Feb. 2026
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Grahamichthys Whitley 1956 in honor of marine biologist David H. Graham, author of A Treasury of New Zealand Fishes (1953), alluding to country where G. radiatus is endemic; ichthýs (ἰχθύς), fish

Grahamichthys radiatus (Valenciennes 1837) Latin for rayed, allusion not explained nor evident; since French vernacular is “l’eleotris rayé” (rayé = striped), perhaps name refers to 12 brownish vertical stripes on sides

Tempestichthys Goatley & Tornabene 2022 Tempestas, Roman goddess of storms, referring to Severe Tropical Cyclone Oma, which passed through the Coral Sea between 11 and 22 February 2019, resulting in rough seas, nausea, and changes to the itinerary of the 2019 Coral Sea Monitoring Program Cruise, during which holotype was collected; ichthýs (ἰχθύς), fish

Tempestichthys bettyae Goatley & Tornabene 2022 in honor of Mrs. E. Goatley, great aunt of the first author, for the support and encouragement she has provided “throughout his life and career”

Thalasseleotris Hoese & Larson 1987 thálassa (θάλασσα), sea, referring to T. adela, described from the marine waters of southern Australia; Eleotris, presumed to be an eleotrid at the time

Thalasseleotris adela Hoese & Larson 1987 adēlos (ἄδηλος), dim or obscure, referring to its cryptic and often dark habitat (i.e., silty, turbid waters)

Thalasseleotris iota Hoese & Roberts 2005 iota (ι), smallest letter of Greek alphabet, i.e., anything very small; at 32.6 mm SL (39.4 mm TL), one of New Zealand’s smallest known vertebrate species