EVIOTA LATERITEA - (GREENFIELD & WINTERBOTTOM, 2016)
Picture courtesy of: Alain Daoulas
Actinopterygii (Gigaclass) > Actinopteri (Class) > Teleostei (Subclass) > Gobiiformes (Order) > Gobioidei (Suborder) > Gobiidae (Family) > Gobiinae (Subfamily) > Eviota (Genus)
Gobie pygmée des latérites, Laterite dwarfgoby, Laterite pygmygoby,
Actinopterygii (Gigaclass) > Actinopteri (Class) > Teleostei (Subclass) > Gobiiformes (Order) > Gobioidei (Suborder) > Gobiidae (Family) > Gobiinae (Subfamily) > Eviota (Genus)
Gobie pygmée des latérites, Laterite dwarfgoby, Laterite pygmygoby,
Synonyme
Eviota laterita (Greenfield & Winterbottom, 2016)
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Description
Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spine: 1; Anal soft rays: 8. Pectoral fin rays: 15-16 (usually: 16), some branched; Fifth pelvic-fin ray long, 74% (50-74%) length of 4th pelvic-fin ray; 2-4 (usually: 3) branches on 4th ray; 2-3 segments between consecutive branches of 4th pelvic-fin ray; Pelvic fin membrane between rays reduced; Caudal fin rays: 12-14 (usually: 14) branched and 17 segmented; Lateral scale rows: 23–24; Transverse scale rows: 7; Scales present on ventral surface of abdomen; First dorsal fin triangular in shape, first spine filamentous in male paratype, extending back to base of 5th ray of second dorsal fin, non-filamentous in females. Max. length: 1.6 cm SL. Depth range: 9 - 27 m.
Color
Background color of body cream with greenish tinge, head light cream; Edges of scales dark, forming a diamond pattern, those on dorsum wider and darker and with a reddish tinge. Body crossed by six subcutaneous bars with a dark purplish tinge: first bar originates at front of first dorsal fin, second at end of first dorsal fin, third at front of second dorsal fin, fourth at center of second dorsal fin and bifurcated ventrally, fifth on caudal peduncle just at end of second dorsal fin, and sixth on caudal peduncle, resulting in five postanal spots. Dark area at end of caudal peduncle at caudal fin base extending onto caudal-fin rays, bottom of dark area not counted as a postanal spot. Nape and head crossed by three red bars containing large black chromatophores: first bar in front of dorsal fin widest, second and third narrower, but extend further down ventrally in line with center of eye. Jaws and narial tubes red. Iris of eye gold, with eight red bars radiating out from black pupil. Side of head with large red bars or blotches overlaid with black chromatophores. Four red bars under eye: anteriormost at eight o’clock position and shortest, extending to upper jaw; Second at seven o’clock position and also extending to upper jaw; Third at six o’clock position extending down to behind end of lower jaw; Fourth at four o’clock position extending half-way down cheek with a break, then extending down across preoperculum to its ventral edge. A small rounded blotch between third and fourth bars, near break in fourth bar. Several more roundish blotches on preoperculum and operculum. Pectoral fin base with two reddish blotches, one dorsal and one ventral, overlaid with small black chromatophores. Pectoral and anal fins with a reddish tinge; First dorsal fin dusky with scattered red spots and a red base that extends onto dorsum; Second dorsal fin dusky with distinct small red spots along rays, caudal fin with rows of distinct round red spots on rays.
Etymology
Eviota: from Greek prefix, ev-, eu-, = good or well, very + from Greek letter, iota = smallest letter in the Greek alphabet and often figuratively used to describe anything small or insignificant. Referring to Eviota epiphanes (Jenkins, 1903), which, at 1.0-1.9 cm in length, Jenkins claimed was the “smallest vertebrate that has up to this time been described”.
lateritea: derived from laterite, a mineral producing the red dust that is all-pervasive in southern New Caledonia, referring to the red coloration of the species.
Original description: Eviota lateritea Greenfield & Winterbottom, 2016 - Type locality: Port De Goro, fringing reef off road, New Caledonia, 22°20'00"S, 167°00'20"E, depth 18.3-24.4 meters.
Distribution
Southwestern Pacific: Grande Terre (New Caledonia).
Biology
Collected from fringing reefs, with silty coral rock and rubble bottom.
Last update: 26, November 2023
Description
Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spine: 1; Anal soft rays: 8. Pectoral fin rays: 15-16 (usually: 16), some branched; Fifth pelvic-fin ray long, 74% (50-74%) length of 4th pelvic-fin ray; 2-4 (usually: 3) branches on 4th ray; 2-3 segments between consecutive branches of 4th pelvic-fin ray; Pelvic fin membrane between rays reduced; Caudal fin rays: 12-14 (usually: 14) branched and 17 segmented; Lateral scale rows: 23–24; Transverse scale rows: 7; Scales present on ventral surface of abdomen; First dorsal fin triangular in shape, first spine filamentous in male paratype, extending back to base of 5th ray of second dorsal fin, non-filamentous in females. Max. length: 1.6 cm SL. Depth range: 9 - 27 m.
Color
Background color of body cream with greenish tinge, head light cream; Edges of scales dark, forming a diamond pattern, those on dorsum wider and darker and with a reddish tinge. Body crossed by six subcutaneous bars with a dark purplish tinge: first bar originates at front of first dorsal fin, second at end of first dorsal fin, third at front of second dorsal fin, fourth at center of second dorsal fin and bifurcated ventrally, fifth on caudal peduncle just at end of second dorsal fin, and sixth on caudal peduncle, resulting in five postanal spots. Dark area at end of caudal peduncle at caudal fin base extending onto caudal-fin rays, bottom of dark area not counted as a postanal spot. Nape and head crossed by three red bars containing large black chromatophores: first bar in front of dorsal fin widest, second and third narrower, but extend further down ventrally in line with center of eye. Jaws and narial tubes red. Iris of eye gold, with eight red bars radiating out from black pupil. Side of head with large red bars or blotches overlaid with black chromatophores. Four red bars under eye: anteriormost at eight o’clock position and shortest, extending to upper jaw; Second at seven o’clock position and also extending to upper jaw; Third at six o’clock position extending down to behind end of lower jaw; Fourth at four o’clock position extending half-way down cheek with a break, then extending down across preoperculum to its ventral edge. A small rounded blotch between third and fourth bars, near break in fourth bar. Several more roundish blotches on preoperculum and operculum. Pectoral fin base with two reddish blotches, one dorsal and one ventral, overlaid with small black chromatophores. Pectoral and anal fins with a reddish tinge; First dorsal fin dusky with scattered red spots and a red base that extends onto dorsum; Second dorsal fin dusky with distinct small red spots along rays, caudal fin with rows of distinct round red spots on rays.
Etymology
Eviota: from Greek prefix, ev-, eu-, = good or well, very + from Greek letter, iota = smallest letter in the Greek alphabet and often figuratively used to describe anything small or insignificant. Referring to Eviota epiphanes (Jenkins, 1903), which, at 1.0-1.9 cm in length, Jenkins claimed was the “smallest vertebrate that has up to this time been described”.
lateritea: derived from laterite, a mineral producing the red dust that is all-pervasive in southern New Caledonia, referring to the red coloration of the species.
Original description: Eviota lateritea Greenfield & Winterbottom, 2016 - Type locality: Port De Goro, fringing reef off road, New Caledonia, 22°20'00"S, 167°00'20"E, depth 18.3-24.4 meters.
Distribution
Southwestern Pacific: Grande Terre (New Caledonia).
Biology
Collected from fringing reefs, with silty coral rock and rubble bottom.
Last update: 26, November 2023