EVIOTA MELASMA - (LACHNER & KARNELLA, 1980)
Actinopterygii (Gigaclass) > Actinopteri (Class) > Teleostei (Subclass) > Gobiiformes (Order) > Gobiidae (Family) > Gobiinae (Subfamily) > Eviota (Genus)
Black-spotted pygmy-goby, Headspot Eviota, Melasma pygmy goby, Akahoshi-isohaze,
Description
Dorsal spines (total): 5 - 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-10; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 8-9. Characterized by semi-transparent body with red-brown internal bars; irregular reddish blotches on nape; presence of intense black spot above gill opening; three red blotches separated by white or yellow bars on side of belly; base of pectoral fin with narrow white band; longitudinal scale series 23-25; ctenoid scales, absent on head and breast; separated pelvic fins, thin membrane joining bases; depth of body 6.5-7.7 in SL. Max length: 3.0 cm SL. Depth range: 1 - 20 m.
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”.
Dorsal spines (total): 5 - 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-10; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 8-9. Characterized by semi-transparent body with red-brown internal bars; irregular reddish blotches on nape; presence of intense black spot above gill opening; three red blotches separated by white or yellow bars on side of belly; base of pectoral fin with narrow white band; longitudinal scale series 23-25; ctenoid scales, absent on head and breast; separated pelvic fins, thin membrane joining bases; depth of body 6.5-7.7 in SL. Max length: 3.0 cm SL. Depth range: 1 - 20 m.
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”.
Distribution
Western Pacific: Cocos-Keeling Islands to Samoa, north to the Yaeyama Islands, south to Scott Reef and the southern Great Barrier Reef; Belau, Truk, and Enewetak in Micronesia. Reported from New Caledonia.
Western Pacific: Cocos-Keeling Islands to Samoa, north to the Yaeyama Islands, south to Scott Reef and the southern Great Barrier Reef; Belau, Truk, and Enewetak in Micronesia. Reported from New Caledonia.
Biology
Found on rocks of corals reefs in the infralittoral zone. Solitary or in groups, resting at bottom.
Similar species
Eviota punctulata (Jewett & Lachner, 1983) - Reported from New Caledonia. Characterized by semi-translucent green or reddish color; large red-brown patch on operculum; abdomen with pair of large squarish dark brown patches, followed by about seven increasingly smaller internal brown spots or short bars ventrally on body; head with dark red-brown spots and short bands.
Eviota guttata (Lachner & Karnella, 1978) - Reported from New Caledonia.
Eviota albolineata (Jewett & Lachner, 1983) - Absent from New Caledonia.
Eviota fallax (Greenfield & Allen, 2012) - Absent from New Caledonia.
Eviota pictifacies (Greenfield & Erdmann, 2017) - Reported from Sumbawa, Indonesia.
Found on rocks of corals reefs in the infralittoral zone. Solitary or in groups, resting at bottom.
Similar species
Eviota punctulata (Jewett & Lachner, 1983) - Reported from New Caledonia. Characterized by semi-translucent green or reddish color; large red-brown patch on operculum; abdomen with pair of large squarish dark brown patches, followed by about seven increasingly smaller internal brown spots or short bars ventrally on body; head with dark red-brown spots and short bands.
Eviota guttata (Lachner & Karnella, 1978) - Reported from New Caledonia.
Eviota albolineata (Jewett & Lachner, 1983) - Absent from New Caledonia.
Eviota fallax (Greenfield & Allen, 2012) - Absent from New Caledonia.
Eviota pictifacies (Greenfield & Erdmann, 2017) - Reported from Sumbawa, Indonesia.