ArticlePDF Available

Eviota piperata, a new gobiid species from Palau (Teleostei: Gobiidae)

Authors:

Abstract and Figures

A new species of dwarfgoby, Eviota piperata is described from Palau. It belongs to the cephalic sensory-pore system Group II (lacking only the IT pore); has a dorsal/anal-fin formula of 8/8; has some pectoral-fin rays branched; no dark spot over the ural centrum; the male genital papilla is not fimbriate; and the cheek and body are heavily peppered with chromatophores.
Content may be subject to copyright.
Accepted by J. Sparks: 11 Dec. 2013; published: 22 Jan. 2014
ZOOTAXA
ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition)
ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition)
Copyright © 2014 Magnolia Press
Zootaxa 3755 (3): 295–300
www.mapress.com
/
zootaxa
/
Article
295
http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3755.3.7
http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:61E01A93-8578-4FC8-A342-AA8D19CCBD91
Eviota piperata, a new gobiid species from Palau (Teleostei: Gobiidae)
DAVID W. GREENFIELD¹ & RICHARD WINTERBOTTOM²
¹Research Associate, Department of Ichthyology, California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Dr., Golden Gate Park, San
Francisco, California 94118-4503, and Professor Emeritus, University of Hawaii. Mailing address: 944 Egan Ave., Pacific Grove, CA
93950. E-mail: greenfie@hawaii.edu
²Curator Emeritus, Department of Natural History, Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen’s Park, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2C6; and
Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1A1. E-mail: rickw@rom.on.ca
Abstract
A new species of dwarfgoby, Eviota piperata is described from Palau. It belongs to the cephalic sensory-pore system
Group II (lacking only the IT pore); has a dorsal/anal-fin formula of 8/8; has some pectoral-fin rays branched; no dark spot
over the ural centrum; the male genital papilla is not fimbriate; and the cheek and body are heavily peppered with chro-
matophores.
Key words: Gobiidae, Eviota piperata, Dwarfgoby, Palau
Introduction
The Indo-Pacific gobiid genus Eviota is currently represented by 83 described valid species (Eschmeyer, 2014), yet
we are aware of many more awaiting description. This situation closely parallels that found in another genus of
small Indo-Pacific gobiids, Trimma, where there are almost 75 described valid species (Winterbottom, 2011).
During synoptic surveys of Indo-Pacific reef fishes, the second author made three collecting trips to Palau (2004,
2006, 2008), each lasting about three weeks and averaging about 40 scuba collections per trip. The Palauan islands,
on the fringes of the ‘Coral Triangle’ which encompasses the world’s greatest diversity of coral reef fishes (see. e.g.
Allen and Erdmann, 2012), contain a total fish fauna (including freshwater and open sea fishes) of some 1,700
species (Winterbottom, unpub. data). Approximately 50 previously undescribed species of fishes were obtained
during these trips, mostly gobies. Here we describe one of these new species in the gobiid genus Eviota as part of
our ongoing studies of members of this genus (see Greenfield & Winterbottom, 2012 for the descriptions of two
other new Palauan species of Eviota collected during these expeditions).
The new species fits the description typical of all species of Eviota: the pelvic fins are separate and the 5th
pelvic-fin ray, if present, is unbranched; the membrane joining the 5th pelvic-fin rays is rudimentary or absent; there
are ctenoid scales on the body but no scales on the head, nape or pectoral-fin base; the breast either lacks scales or
may have a few embedded cycloid scales; the teeth in the upper jaw are in two or more rows and there are 1–3
enlarged curved canine-like teeth in the innermost row of the lower jaw just behind the jaw symphysis.
Material and methods
Counts and measurements, descriptions of fin morphology and the cephalic sensory-canal pore patterns follow
Lachner & Karnella (1980) and Jewett & Lachner (1983). Postanal midline spots, along the posteroventral midline
of the body, begin at the anal-fin origin and extend to a vertical drawn 2 to 3 scale rows anterior to the ends of the
hypurals where they articulate with the caudal-fin ray bases, the additional smaller spot posterior to this is not
counted. “The membrane joining the 5th pelvic-fin rays is always short and weakly developed and the fins lack a
frenum. The membranes joining the first four fin rays are considered to be well developed when the membranes
GREENFIELD & WINTERBOTTOM
296 · Zootaxa 3755 (3) © 2014 Magnolia Press
extend beyond the bases of the first branches; they are considered to be reduced when they are slightly developed,
not extending to the bases of the first branches” (Lachner and Karnella, 1980). Dorsal/anal fin-ray counts only
include segmented rays.
Measurements were made to the nearest 0.1 mm using an ocular micrometer and dial calipers, and are
presented as percentage of Standard Length (SL). All specimen lengths are SL in mm. Cyanine Blue 5R (acid blue
113) stain was used to make pores more obvious (Akihito et al. 1993; Saruwatari et al. 1997; Nakabo 2002) and an
airjet used to observe them. For measurements, values for the holotype are given first, followed by the range for all
types and the mean in parentheses.
Specimens have been deposited in the following museums: AMS – Australian Museum, Sydney; CAS –
California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco; ROM – Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, and USNM – United
States National Museum (Smithsonian), Washington D.C.
Eviota piperata n. sp.
Peppered Dwarfgoby
(Figs. 1–3)
Holotype. ROM 84490, 20.1 male, Palau, Sonsoral State, about middle of E coast of Fana Island, 05°21’17”N,
132°13’27”E, reef slope (30–44°) of coral rock with some rubble and coarse sand patches, moderate amounts of
hard coral (Acropora, Pocillopora, Millepora), many dark colored sponges, 6–9 m, rotenone, field number RW08-
06, Winterbottom, R., Westneat, M., Williams, J., Holleman, W., Hubley, B., Winterbottom, M., McCord, C., Rall,
H., 12 September 2008.
Paratypes: ROM 94753 (ex-ROM 84490), 7 males, 17.4–20.1, 18 females, 8.1–18.8, taken with holotype,
photographed specimen in vial; AMS I.146290-001, 18.2 male, 18.8 female, taken with holotype; CAS 236164,
20.5 male, 18.5 female, taken with holotype; USNM 410661 18.3 male, 18.1 female, taken with holotype, ROM
94754 (ex-ROM 84501), 4 males, 15.5–19.6, 5 females 12.1–16.1.
Other material examined: ROM 84501 (123), 10.7–18.6 mm, single specimen in vial photographed. Palau,
Sonsoral State, off SE tip of Pulo Anna, about 10 m from surf line, 04°39’09”N, 131°57’16”E, Halimeda, heavy
cover of hard corals (Acropora, Pocillopora, Millepora), plate corals, lettuce corals, U-shaped channel about 10 m
wide at seaward side and 3 m wide at shore side, floor 17 m at outside shelving to 9 m at tip, numerous caves at
base of tip, floor mostly of live coral, 7–15 m, rotenone, field number RW 08-09, Winterbottom, R., Westneat, M.,
Williams, J., Holleman, W., Hubley, B., Winterbottom, M., McCord, C., 13 September 2008. ROM 76386 (9),
10.4–14.7 mm, single specimen in vial photographed, Palau, Ngatopang, W coast Babeldaob Island, lagoon close
to outer barrier reef, 07°29’32.1”N, 134°25’28.6”E, bommies rising from sand/silt adjacent to coral rubble, brown
algae, 0–7.3 m, rotenone, field number RW 04-23, Winterbottom, R., Holleman, W., Hubley, B., Winterbottom, D.,
30 May 2004.
Diagnosis. The following combination of characters distinguish E. piperata from congeners: cephalic sensory-
pore system Group II (lacking only the IT pore), or lacking the IT and various combinations of the POP, from both
absent to only the upper or lower pore absent; dorsal/anal–fin formula 8/8; some pectoral-fin rays branched; no
dark spot over ural centrum; male genital papilla not fimbriate; cheek and body heavily peppered with
chromatophores.
Description. Dorsal-fin rays VI+I,8 (all); anal-fin rays I,8 (all); pectoral-fin rays 17 (16[11], 17[12]), rays 7–
16 branched in holotype; fifth pelvic-fin ray 7.8% (7.2–16.1, 10.4%) of 4th ray; 6 relatively long branches on 4th ray
(4[6], 5[3], 6[1]); 3 (2[6], 3[4]) segments between consecutive branches of 4th pelvic-fin ray; pelvic-fin membrane
reduced, about ¼ the distance to the first branch; 12 (12[4], 13[4]) branched and 17 (all) segmented caudal-fin rays;
24 (24[3], 25[7]) lateral scale rows; transverse scale rows 6 (all); vertebrae 24; midline of abdomen with cycloid
scales; first dorsal fin triangular in shape, first two spines of first dorsal fin may be filamentous in males as small as
12.5 mm, extending back past end of the second dorsal fin in holotype; genital papilla in male smooth, not
fimbriate, fringed at tip, extending to anal-fin spine; female genital papilla short and rounded with smooth sides,
several short finger-like projections on the end; body moderately slender, front of head rounded with an angle of
about 70° from the horizontal axis; mouth oblique, forming an angle of about 50° to horizontal axis of body, lower
jaw not projecting; maxilla extending to posterior third of pupil; anterior tubular nares short, just reaching to edge
Zootaxa 3755 (3) © 2014 Magnolia Press · 297
EVIOTA PIPERATA
of upper lip; gill opening extending forward to posteroventral edge of preoperculum; cephalic sensory-pore system
pattern Group II (only IT pore missing), or lacking the IT and various combinations of the POP, from both absent to
only the upper or lower pore absent.
Measurements (based on holotype and 11 paratypes, 12.1–20.1). Head length 31.4 (30.3–34.2, 32.2); origin of
first dorsal fin 33.7 (33.7–37.9, 36.4), lying behind posterior margin of pectoral-fin base; origin of second dorsal
fin 56.6 (54.9–60.3, 57.6), slightly in advance of anal-fin origin; origin of anal fin 60.5 (58.7–62.7, 60.3); caudal-
peduncle length 22.7 (22.4–24.8, 23.9); caudal-peduncle of moderate depth 13.5 (10.9–15.3, 13.3); body relatively
slender, its depth 21.4 (19.6–22.2, 21.1); eye diameter 8.7 (8.7–11.7, 11.1); snout length 5.1 (4.2–6.0, 5.1);
pectoral-fin length 28.8 (25.5–37.5, 31.4); pelvic-fin length 55.3 (30.1–55.3, 36.6).
Color in preservative of holotype (Fig. 1). Background color of head and body pale yellowish. Head with a
heavy peppering of chromatophores on the top and nape, on the cheeks, and on the operculum. A concentration of
chromatophores along the posterior edge of the preoperculum that extends down to a heavy peppering of
chromatophores on the branchiostegal membranes. A cluster of chromatophores below the eye extending down
behind the jaws. Interorbital area, snout, nares and jaws with a lighter peppering. Pupil of the eye clear, iris black.
A heavy band of chromatophores on the pectoral-fin base. Peppering of chromatophores less intense on the body
than on the head, scale pockets outlined with chromatophores, more intense on the dorsal half of the body.
Abdomen peppered. A thin dark line running along the middle of the sides of the body along the caudal peduncle.
Five obvious, dark, postanal midline spots followed by a smaller spot, matched by a similar spot at the top of the
caudal-fin base. Caudal, anal and second dorsal fins peppered with chromatophores and melanophores.
Filamentous spine of first dorsal fin with a series of spaced brown spots. Remainder of fin peppered with small
brown spots, its distal margin darker. Pectoral and pelvic fins lighter than other fins.
FIGURE 1. Eviota piperata, holotype preserved, ROM 84490. Photograph by D.W. Greenfield.
FIGURE 2. Eviota piperata, holotype fresh, ROM 84490. Photograph by R. Winterbottom.
GREENFIELD & WINTERBOTTOM
298 · Zootaxa 3755 (3) © 2014 Magnolia Press
FIGURE 3. Eviota piperata, paratype fresh, ROM 94753. Photograph by R. Winterbottom.
Color of fresh holotype (Fig.2). Background color of head and body light brown. Scale pocket margins
outlined with chromatophores, more intense on dorsal surface. Head darker than body, heavily peppered with large
chromatophores, more concentrated on preopercular margin, under eye, behind jaws, and under head. Two dark
bars crossing top of head behind eyes. Nares dark with black tips. Pupil of eye black, iris yellow with orange
spokes radiating out from pupil. Pectoral-fin base dark, slightly darker on top and bottom. Body with six
subcutaneous bars: the first at anterior half of first dorsal fin; the second at posterior half of first dorsal fin; third
from origin of second dorsal fin to anal-fin origin; fourth at end of anal fin; fifth and sixth on caudal peduncle. Five
postanal midline spots on ventral surface of body: the first at anal-fin origin, second at end of anal fin; third, fourth,
and fifth on caudal peduncle, followed by a smaller spot at ventral caudal-fin margin next to procurrent spines, this
last spot matched at top of caudal fin. Caudal and anal fins brown, heavily peppered with melanophores.
Filamentous spine of first dorsal fin with a series of spaced black spots with orange halos. Remainder of fin brown
with an orange tinge, its distal margin darker. A narrow light area running from third black spot of first dorsal spine
down across fin to base of fourth spine. A single black spot on membrane between spines five and six. Second
dorsal fin brown, heavily peppered with chromatophores, lighter on distal half. Spine with four spaced black spots
similar to those on the first spine of the first dorsal fin, similar dark spots on the soft rays. Pectoral and pelvic fins
lighter than other fins.
Fresh color of paratype. In some specimens, the peppering of chromatophores on the head is lighter revealing
the concentration of chromatophores on various portions of the head (Fig. 3).
Distribution. Only known from Palau. Eviota piperata was collected throughout the Palauan Islands, from the
north tip of Babeldaop to Helen Reef, the southernmost of the South West Islands. It was locally abundant in the
South West Islands (except at Helen Reef, where only two specimens were collected despite nearly two weeks of
sampling), with a single collection from Pulo Anna containing 131 specimens, and a total of over 330 specimens
collected in limited collecting effort (7 days). Two three-week long expeditions to the main Palauan Islands (in
2004 and 2006) resulted in the collection of only 34 specimens of this species. The five South West Islands
(excluding Helen Reef) are all small coral limestone islands perched on submerged volcanic peaks, with small
shallow lagoons and steep outer slopes to deepwater.
Etymology. The specific epithet is from the Latin piper (pepper) referring to the heavy peppering of
melanophores over the head and rest of the body.
Comparisons. Of the 30 described species of Eviota in cephalic sensory-pore system Group II (lacking only
the IT pore) (Table 1), only four others have branched pectoral-fin rays and a dorsal/anal-fin formula of 8/8 (E.
dorsimaculata, E. indica, E. latifasciata, and E. rubra). Eviota dorsimaculata, E. indica and E. latifasciata all have
a dark spot on the caudal peduncle over the ural centrum that is lacking in E. piperata, and neither E. indica nor E.
latifasciata have an elongation of the first dorsal fin, which rarely is slightly elongated in E. dorsimaculata (the
first spines in males of E. piperata may be filamentous). Eviota rubra also has branched pectoral-fin rays and no
spot over the ural centrum; however, E. rubra has a distinctive fimbriate genital papilla in both the male and
female, whereas the papillae are non fimbriate in E. piperata. Eviota rubra also lacks the heavy peppering of
melanophores present in E. piperata as well as other color differences (Greenfield & Randall, 1999, 2004-Fig. 62).
Zootaxa 3755 (3) © 2014 Magnolia Press · 299
EVIOTA PIPERATA
TABLE 1. Species of Eviota included in the cephalic sensory-canal pore system Group II (IT missing), dorsal/anal-fin
formulas (D/A) and pectoral-fin branching (S=simple, BR=branched).
Because the number of preopercular pores (POP) can be variable in E. piperata it also is necessary to compare it to
five other species of Eviota that lack both the IT and POP: E. lacrimae, E. ocellifer, E. pinocchioi, E. sparsa and E.
susanae. All of these species except E. susanae have a dorsal/anal-fin formula of 9/8, (8/8 in E. piperata). Eviota
susanae has a fimbriate genital papilla in both the male and female (non-flimbrate in E. piperata); the 5th pelvic-fin
ray is 53–90% of the length of the 4th ray in E. sparsa (vs. 7.2–16.1% in E. piperata); E. ocellifer has the
anteroventral region of the first dorsal fin black, bordered above with pale yellow, whereas E. piperata lacks that
dorsal fin coloration; the anterior tubular nares are black and very elongate, reaching well anterior to the upper lip
in E. pinocchioi (nares only reach to the upper lip in E. piperata).
Remarks. Eviota piperata is unusual in exhibiting variation in the presence of the preopercular pores (POP).
Even though the cephalic-sensory pore system groupings do not appear to reflect genetic relationships (Tornabene
et al. 2013), they are useful in differentiating different species and species groups and usually do not vary within a
species. We are aware of an undescribed species of Eviota in Indonesia that is similar in coloration to E. piperata
but differs in pore patterns. The relationship between these two species awaits the collection of more material,
especially DNA tissue. We note in passing that 1 of 234 specimens that we assigned to E. piperata possessed the IT
pore – we regard this specimen as an anomaly.
WĞĐƚŽƌĂůďƌĂŶĐŚŝŶŐ ͬϴͬϳ ͬϴͬϴ ͬϵͬϳ ͬϵͬϴ ͬϭϬͬϵ
͘ĂŶĐŽƌĂ ^ y
͘ĂƚƌŝǀĞŶƚƌŝƐ ^ y
͘ŶŝŐƌŝƐƉŝŶĂ ^ y
͘ƉƌĂƐŝƚĞƐ ^ y
͘ƌƵďƌŝĐĞƉƐ ^ y
͘ƐƉƌŝŶŐĞƌŝ ^ y
͘ƐƚŽƌƚŚLJŶdž ^ y
͘ƐƉŝůŽƚĂ ^ y
͘ĐŽŵĞƚĂ ^ y y
͘ƐŝŐŝůůĂƚĂ ^ y
͘njĞďƌŝŶĂ ^ y y
͘ƉĂůůƵĐŝĚĂ Z y
͘ĚŽƌƐŝŵĂĐƵůĂƚĂ Z y
͘ŝŶĚŝĐĂ Z y
͘ůĂĐƌŝŵŽƐĂ Z y
͘ůĂƚŝĨĂƐĐŝĂƚĂ Z y
͘ƉŝƉĞƌĂƚĂŶ͘ƐƉ Z y
͘ƌƵďƌĂ Z y
͘ĂĨĞůĞŝ Z y
͘ďŝŵĂĐƵůĂƚĂ Z y
͘ŚŝŶĂŶŽĂĞ Z y
͘ŚŽĞƐĞŝ Z y
͘ũĂƉŽŶŝĐĂ Z y
͘ƉƌĂƐŝŶĂ Z y
͘ƉƵŶĐƚƵůĂƚĂ Z y
͘ƋƵĞĞŶƐůĂŶĚŝĐĂ Z y
͘ƐĂŝƉĂŶĞŶƐŝƐ Z y
͘njŽŶƵƌĂ Z y
͘ƚŝŐƌŝŶĂ Z y
͘ǀĂƌŝŽůĂ Z y
GREENFIELD & WINTERBOTTOM
300 · Zootaxa 3755 (3) © 2014 Magnolia Press
Acknowledgments
The staff of the California Academy of Sciences as usual has provided continual support: D. Catania, J. Fong, M.
Hoang, and L. Rocha. The curatorial expertise of Don Stacey and Margaret Zur (both ROM) is gratefully
acknowledged. RW would like to express his sincerest thanks to the seven other members of the “fish” team (see
Material Examined for names), and Pat and Lori Colin of the Coral Reef Research Foundation (CRRF). Permission
to collect and export the specimens was graciously supplied by the members of the Palau Bureau of Marine
Resources, the Helen Reef Resource Management Project, the peoples of the South West Islands, and Youlsau
Bells and Joel Miles (Office of Environmental Response and Coordination). RW’s fieldwork was financially
supported by the ROM Foundation, the ROM’s Department of Natural History, NSERC Discovery Grant 7619, an
NSERC Ship Time grant, and a grant from The Nature Conservancy – deep gratitude to all these agencies and their
officers.
References
Akihito, Sakamoto, K., Iwata, A. & Ikeda, Y. (1993) Cephalic sensory organs of the gobioid fishes. In: Nakabo, T. (Ed.), Fishes
of Japan with pictorial keys to the species. Tokai University Press, Tokyo, pp. 1088–1116. [in Japanese]
Allen, G.R. & Erdmann, M.V. (2012) Reef fishes of the East Indies. Vols. I-III. Tropical Reef Research, Perth, Australia, 1260
pp.
Eschmeyer, W.N. (Ed.) (2014) Catalog of Fishes: Genera, Species, References (http:/research.calacademy.org/research/
ichthyology/catalog/fishcatmain.asp)
Greenfield, D.W. & Randall, J.E. (1999) Two new Eviota species from the Hawaiian Islands (Teleostei: Gobiidae). Copeia,
1999 (2), 439–446.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/1447490
Greenfield, D.W. & Randall, J.E. (2004) The marine gobies of the Hawaiian Islands. Proceedings of the California Academy of
Sciences, 55 (27), 498–549.
Greenfield, D.W. & Winterbottom, R. (2012) Two new dwarfgobies from the Southwestern Pacific Ocean (Teleostei: Gobiidae:
Eviota). Zootaxa, 3572, 33–42.
Jewett, S.L. & Lachner, E.A. (1983) Seven new species of the Indo-Pacific genus Eviota (Pisces: Gobiidae). Proceedings of the
Biological Society of Washington, 96 (4), 780–806.
Lachner, E.A. & Karnella, J.S. (1980) Fishes of the Indo-Pacific genus Eviota with descriptions of eight new species
(Teleostei:Gobiidae). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, No. 315, 1–127.
http://dx.doi.org/10.5479/si.00810282.315
Nakabo, T. (Ed.) (2002) Fishes of Japan with pictorial keys to the species. 2 Vols. English edition, Tokai University Press,
Tokyo, 1749 pp.
Saruwatari, T., Lopez, J.A. & Pietsch, T.W. (1997) Cyanine blue: a versatile and harmless stain for specimen observations.
Copeia, 1997 (4), 840–841.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/1447302
Tornabene, L., Ahmadia, G.N., Berumen, M.L., Smith, D.J., Jompa, J. & Pezold, F. (2013) Evolution of microhabitat
association and morphology in a diverse group of cryptobenthic coral reef fishes (Teleostei: Gobiidae: Eviota). Molecular
Phylogenetics and Evolution, 66 (1), 391–400.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2012.10.014
Winterbottom, R. (2011) Six new species of the genus Trimma (Percomorpha; Gobiidae) from the Raja Ampat Islands,
Indonesia. aqua, International Journal of Ichthyology, 17 (3), 127–162.
... Eviota flebilis belongs to the cephalic sensory-pore pattern 2 of Lachner and Karnella (1980), lacking only the IT pore. The group contains 30 described species (Greenfield & Winterbottom, 2014, have values of 9/8 or 9/7, and from E. cometa Jewett & Lachner, which can have 9/8 or 8/7, by lacking an obvious black spot before the caudal fin; from those with dorsal/anal values of 8/7 by having a shorter 5th pelvic-fin ray, 12.9% the length of the 4th ray, (longer, modally 40% in E. pellucida and E. prasites Jordan & Seale); and from E. storthynx Rofen, with shorter 5th pelvic-fin rays, by lacking the dark occipital spot present in that species. The only other described species of Eviota sharing characters with E. flebilis are E. ancora Greenfield & Suzuki, and E. springeri Greenfield & Jewett. ...
... Remarks. One other species of Eviota also has a heavy speckling of chromatophores on the body like E. specca, E. piperata; however, it lacks the IT pore, has small chromatophores covering the head as well as the body, the entire pectoral-fin base is covered with pigment, and has larger chromatophores on the dorsal fins (Greenfield & Winterbottom, 2014). ...
Article
Full-text available
Two species of dwarfgoby are described from the Ryukyu Islands, Japan. Eviota flebilis n. sp. belongs to cephalic sensory-pore system pattern 2 (lacking only IT pore), has a dorsal/anal fin-ray formula of 8/7, unbranched pectoral-fin rays, the 5th pelvic-fin ray 12.9% of the 4th, a distinctive narrow, red-orange line under the eye, and a dark vertical line at the caudal-fin base. Eviota specca n. sp. has a cephalic sensory-pore system pattern 1 (complete), has a dorsal/anal-fin formula of 8/8, the body heavily sprinkled with chromatophores, and a single dark spot on the upper pectoral-fin base.
... Eviota asymbasia has six postanal spots, whereas E. piperata only has five (Fig. 5). Greenfield & Winterbottom (2014) Five described species also lack both the IT and POP pores: E. lacrimae, E. ocellifer, E. pinocchioi, and E. susanae. Eviota lacrimae has unbranched pectoral-fin rays (branched in E. asymbasia), E. ocellifer has a distinctive black spot on the anteroventral portion of the first dorsal fin (vs. ...
Article
Full-text available
Two new species of dwarfgobies are described, Eviota asymbasia from the Sulu Sea, Philippine Islands, south to Java and west to Damar, and E. bipunctata occurring from the Indian Ocean eastward into the western Pacific Ocean. Eviota asymbasia lacks the IT pore of the cephalic sensory-pore system and usually also the POP, has a dorsal/anal-fin formula of 8/8, has some pectoral-fin rays branched and usually 15 rays, two spots on the pectoral-fin base, no dark spot over the preural centrum, first dorsal fin may be filamentous, six ventral postanal spots, and the male genital papilla is not fimbriate. Eviota bipunctata belongs to the group with cephalic sensory-pore system pattern 2 (lacking only the IT pore), some pectoral-fin rays branched, pectoral-fin base with 1 or 2 prominent dark spots, dorsal/anal-fin formula usually 8/8, and no occipital spots.
Article
Full-text available
A new species of dwarfgoby, Eviota occasa, lacking all head pores, is described from Palau and Japan. It has a dorsal/anal-fin formula of 8/8, some of the pectoral-fin rays are branched, the 5th pelvic-fin ray is absent or rudimentary, the 4th pelvic-fin ray has 5 branches, the first dorsal fin is crossed by two dark bands separated by a diagonal light band, and there is a distinct dark spot on the caudal peduncle anterior to the caudal fin, followed by a pale bar and then a yellow-orange broad wedge-shaped bar at the caudal-fin base.
Article
Full-text available
A new species of dwarfgoby, Eviota occasa, lacking all head pores, is described from Palau and Japan. It has a dorsal/anal-fin formula of 8/8, some of the pectoral-fin rays are branched, the 5th pelvic-fin ray is absent or rudimentary, the 4th pelvic-fin ray has 5 branches, the first dorsal fin is crossed by two dark bands separated by a diagonal light band, and there is a distinct dark spot on the caudal peduncle anterior to the caudal fin, followed by a pale bar and then a yellow-orange broad wedge-shaped bar at the caudal-fin base.
Article
Full-text available
by a relatively deep body, numerous irregular scales with about 30 lateral rows and over 15 scales in the anterior transverse series, a fifth pelvic fin ray that branches twice dichoto-mously, usually a somewhat elongate second dorsal spine, no predorsal, cheek or opercular scales, a moderately wide bony interorbital with a fleshy median ridge between the eyes, and a dermal ridge anterior to the first dorsal spine. There is a red spot or elongate blotch above the opercle in live and fresh material, and the dorsal surface of the snout has a reticulated dark pattern, with dark transverse stripes over the dorsal margin of the orbit. The species is known from southwestern Sulawesi north to Palawan and eastwards to the Solomon Islands. Trimma papayum n. sp. is unique among the described species of the genus in having a one-third pupil diameter black ocellated spot on and just behind the fourth dorsal fin spine. It has 9 dorsal and 8 anal fin rays, a single branch point in the fifth pelvic fin ray, 10-11 anterior and 8-9 posterior transverse scale rows, 5-10 scales in the predorsal midline, and a single row of 3 scales on the upper margin of the opercle. Freshly collected specimens are orange red in overall colouration, with scattered diffuse yellow spots. The species is known only from Indonesia, at Maumere, Flores and Kawe Island, Raja Ampat. Trimma xanthochrum n. sp. is characterized by a wide interorbital region (80-100% pupil diameter), a second dorsal spine usually reaching posteriorly to between the bases of the second to third dorsal fin rays, 15-16 pectoral rays usually with 7-8 branched rays, vertical rows of sensory papillae below eye of 2-3 papillae in rows 1-4 and 4-5 in row 5, a caudal blotch which has a lower half about two-thirds the width of the upper half, and usually an overall yellowish body with yellow at least proximally in the caudal fin. It is currently known with certainty only from the Raja Ampat islands. Zusammenfassung Bei einer neueren Forschungsreise zum Raja-Ampat-Archi-pel Indonesiens (2010) wurden sieben unbeschriebene Trimma-Arten entdeckt, von denen sechs hier beschrieben werden. Zwei der neuen Arten kommen nach heutiger Kenntnis nur an diesen Inseln vor, die anderen sind auch von anderen Teilen des Westpazifiks bekannt. Trimma cheni n. sp. unterscheidet sich von den anderen Trimma-Arten durch fol-Abstract Recent (2010) fieldwork in the Raja Ampat Islands of Indonesia resulted in the collection of seven undescribed species of Trimma, six of which are described here. Two of these are currently only known from these islands, the others are known from other parts of the western Pacific. Trimma cheni n. sp. is distinguished from other species of Trimma in having 8-9 scales in the predorsal midline, 2-3 scales on the opercle, an elongate second dorsal spine reaching posteriorly to the bases of rays 1-4 of the second dorsal fin, middle pec-toral fin rays branched, fifth pelvic fin ray branched once, a dark basal stripe in the dorsal fins, scale pockets indistinctly outlined with darker pigment, and, in life, two red to orange bars across the cheek and three diffuse yellow stripes on the body (most obvious along the caudal peduncle). It has been recorded from Palau, the Philippines, and Sulawesi and Flo-res in Indonesia. Trimma erdmanni n. sp. has a reddish-orange body with a dark red lateral stripe with darker borders on the body which extends anteriorly onto the head, where it bifurcates, and there is a thin longitudinal light stripe below the eye. It usually lacks scales in the predorsal midline, the second spine of the first dorsal is elongated, there are 9 dorsal and 8 anal rays, a single branch in the fifth pelvic fin ray, and 19-22 gill rakers on the first gill arch. The species is known from the Raja Ampat islands, the Hermit Islands and Madang (Papua New Guinea), and from photographs from El Nido, Palawan Island and Davao Gulf, Mindanoro, Philippines. Trimma habrum n. sp. has a bony interorbital width equal to the pupil diameter, 8-9 scales in the predorsal midline, 14 unbranched pectoral fin rays, an unbranched fifth pelvic fin ray, no basal membrane joining the fifth pelvic fin rays across the midline, usually a single full row of cheek scales, and scales on the upper two-thirds of the opercle. The fresh colouration is diagnostic: a pale translucent dorsum with light yellow blotches and the base of each element of the dorsal fin surrounded by a red spot, a thin red bar along the posterior margins of the hypurals, no dark pigment at all on the hypural region of the peduncle, and a darkly pigmented covering to the dorsal margins of the swim bladder, neural sheath, and the brain. It is currently known only from a single collection made at Kerou Island, Fam Islands in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. Trimma haimassum n. sp. is characterized gende Merkmale: 8-9 Schuppen auf der prädorsalen Mittel-linie, 2-3 Schuppen auf dem Kiemendeckel, einen verlänger-ten zweiten Rückenstachel, der nach hinten bis zur Basis der Flossenstrahlen 1-4 der zweiten Rückenflosse reicht, ver-zweigte mittlere Strahlen der Brustflosse, einmal verzweigten fünften Bauchflossenstrahl, einen dunklen Streifen am Grund der Rückenflossen, undeutlich mit dunklerem Farb-stoff umrahmte Schuppentaschen, außerdem beim lebenden Tier zwei rote bis orangefarbene Bänder über die Wange hin-weg und drei schwach gelbe Streifen auf dem Rumpf (am deutlichsten sichtbar auf dem Schwanzstiel). Diese Art konnte bei Palau, den Philippinen und Sulawesi und an der Insel Flores in Indonesien nachgewiesen werden. Trimma erd-manni n. sp. hat einen rötlich orangefarbenen Rumpf und einen dunkelroten Seitenstreifen mit dunkleren Rändern auf dem Rumpf, der sich nach vorne bis zum Kopf erstreckt, wo er sich gabelt, außerdem einen dünnen hellen Längsstreifen unter dem Auge. Normalerweise fehlen hier Schuppen auf der prädorsalen Mittellinie, der zweite Stachel der ersten Rückenflosse ist verlängert, die Rückenflossen haben 9 Flos-senstrahlen, die Afterflosse 8, der fünfte Bauchflossenstrahl verzweigt sich einmal, und der erste Kiemenbogen trägt 19-22 Kiemenreusen. Fundorte dieser Art sind die Inseln Raja Ampat, die Hermit-Inseln und Madang (Papua-Neuguinea) sowie, durch Fotos belegt, El Nido, Palawan-Insel und der Davao-Golf, Mindanoro, Philippinen. Bei Trimma habrum n. sp. entspricht die Breite des Interorbitalknochens dem Pupillendurchmesser, Vertreter dieser Art haben 8-9 Schup-pen auf der prädorsalen Mittellinie, 14 unverzweigte Brust-flossenstrahlen, einen unverzweigten fünften Bauchflos-senstrahl, keine Basalmembran am fünften Bauchflos-senstrahl über die Mittellinie hinweg, normalerweise eine ein-zelne volle Reihe von Wangenschuppen und Schuppen auf dem oberen Zweidrittel des Kiemendeckels. Außerdem ist die Färbung lebender oder frischtoter Exemplare artkennzeich-nend: der Rücken blass durchscheinend mit hellgelben Flecken, die Basis von jedem Element der Rückenflosse von einem roten Fleck umrahmt, ein dünner roter Streifen ent-lang den hinteren Rändern der Hypurale, überhaupt kein dunkles Pigment in der hypuralen Gegend des Schwanzstiels sowie eine dunkel pigmentierte Bedeckung der dorsalen Rän-der der Schwimmblase, der Nervenscheide und des Gehirns. Bisher ist diese neue Art nur von einem einzigen Forschungs-fang an der Kerou-Insel, Fam-Inseln im Raja-Ampat-Archi-pel, Indonesien, bekannt. Trimma haimassum n. sp. ist gekennzeichnet durch einen relativ tiefen Rumpf, zahlreiche unregelmäßige Schuppen mit etwa 30 seitlichen Reihen und über 15 Schuppen in der vorderen Querreihe, einen fünften Bauchflossenstrahl, der sich zweimal dichotom verzweigt, normalerweise einen etwas verlängerten zweiten Rückensta-chel, das Fehlen von Schuppen prädorsal, an der Wange und auf dem Kiemendeckel, einen mäßig breiten Interorbitalkno-chen mit einem fleischigen medianen Grat zwischen den Augen sowie eine Hautleiste vor dem ersten Rückenstachel. Bei lebenden oder frischtoten Exemplaren zeigt sich in roter Farbe ein Punkt oder länglicher Fleck oberhalb vom Kie-mendeckel, und die rückwärtige Oberfläche der Schnauze weist ein netzartiges dunkles Muster auf, mit dunklen Quer-streifen über dem rückwärtigen Rand der Augenhöhle. Man fand diese Art am südwestlichen Sulawesi nördlich von Pala-wan und nach Osten zu an den Salomoninseln. Trimma papayum n. sp. zeichnet sich unter den beschriebenen Arten dadurch aus, dass sich auf und direkt hinter dem vierten Rückenflossenstachel ein schwarzer Augenfleck mit dem Durchmesser eines Drittels der Pupille befindet. Außerdem haben Vertreter dieser Art 9 Rückenflossen-und 8 Afterflos-senstrahlen, nur einen Verzweigungspunkt beim fünften Bauchflossenstrahl, 10-11 vordere und 8-9 hintere quer lau-fende Schuppenreihen, 5-10 Schuppen auf der prädorsalen Mittellinie und eine einzelne Reihe von drei Schuppen am oberen Rand des Kiemendeckels. Frisch gefangene Tiere sind insgesamt orangerot, mit unregelmäßig verteilten schwach gelben Flecken. Bisher ist die Art nur von Indonesien bekannt, von der Gegend der Inseln Maumere, Flores und Kawe im Raja-Ampat-Archipel. Trimma xanthochrum n. sp. ist durch folgende Merkmale gekennzeichnet: breite Interor-bitalregion (80-100% des Pupillendurchmessers), einen zwei-ten Rückenstachel, der normalerweise nach hinten bis zwi-schen die Ansätze des zweiten und dritten Rückenflos-senstrahls reicht, 15-16 Brustflossenstrahlen, in der Regel mit 7-8 verzweigten Strahlen, senkrechte Reihen von Sinnespa-pillen unterhalb vom Auge-mit jeweils 2-3 Papillen in den Reihen 1 bis 4 und 4-5 Papillen in Reihe 5-, einen Schwanz-fleck, dessen untere Hälfte etwa zwei Drittel der Breite der oberen Hälfte einnimmt, sowie normalerweise eine gelbliche Gesamtfärbung auf dem Rumpf, die sich mindestens proxi-mal in einem Gelbton auf der Schwanzflosse fortsetzt. Gegenwärtig kennt man diese Art mit Sicherheit nur vom Raja-Ampat-Archipel.
Article
Full-text available
A total of 34 species of gobies (Teleostei, Gobiidae) are known from the Hawaiian Islands, four of which are freshwater species. All species are treated in a key, but only marine species are illustrated and treated in detail. Information on their nomencla-ture, counts and measurements, distinctive characters, coloration, distribution and habitat is presented. Two new species, Cabillus caudimacula, and Pleurosicya lar-sonae are described. An unidentified species of Favonigobius from O'ahu, a possible introduction, is discussed. The Gobiidae is the largest family of marine fishes, with many species also occurring in fresh water. J.S. Nelson (pers. commun., September 2003) estimates that there are about 220 genera and 2010 species. Judging from the number of undescribed species of gobies of which we are aware, that number of species will surely be exceeded. Most gobies are small (the shortest goby is Trimmatom nanus, with females maturing at as lit-tle as 8 mm standard length; but one species, Glossogobius giuris, attains 500 mm standard length). Gobies generally are recognized by their pelvic-fin structure; the fins usually are fused to form a sucking disc which may have an anterior transverse membrane called a frenum that links the spines. When the pelvic fins are separate, they are close together. Gobies and sleepers (family Eleotridae) have been confused in the past, and some gobies with separate pelvic fins have been misidentified as sleepers. Gobies have five branchiostegal rays, whereas the sleepers have six, and the pelvic fins are more broadly separated than in the gobies with the pelvic fins divided. All Hawaiian gobies normally have six spines in the first dorsal fin, except for Discordipinna griessin-geri with five. Most gobies, and all in Hawaiian waters, also usually have two separate dorsal fins. The Hawaiian Islands have a total of 34 species of gobies, four of which (Awaous guamensis, Lentipes concolor, Sicyopterus stimpsoni, and Stenogobius hawaiiensis) are fresh water. In 1905, Jordan and Evermann recognized eight marine gobies in the Hawaiian Islands. Gosline and Brock (1960) found 13. As a result of collecting since then, the number is now 30. These 30 marine species occur in salt to brackish water from tidepools high in the splash zone to moderate depths. One species was recently taken by trawl in 138–169 m. Although some gobies, such as species of the genus Bathygobius, can readily be seen scurrying around tidepools, most are secretive and not easily observed. They are, however, an important part of the communities in which they are pres-ent. In a survey of the fishes of Kâne'ohe Bay, Greenfield (2003) found that the most abundant species taken in collections using an ichthyocide was the goby Eviota epiphanies. In reference to species of Eviota, Greenfield and Randall (1999) wrote "These small gobies may form an impor-tant component of the food of larger piscivorous fishes." Other gobies, of course, also serve as prey to larger fishes.
Article
Full-text available
Two species of Eviota with red or orange bars crossing the body, a bifurcated 4th pelvic-fin ray with two long branches, and lacking many or all cephalic sensory-canal pores are described from Palau, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. Eviota jewettae has a dorsal/anal fin-ray formula of 8/8, 98% of the specimens lack all cephalic sensory-canal pores, 2-4 lower pectoral-fin rays branched; non-filamentous dorsal-fin spines; short tubular anterior nares that are not black and are less than 1/2 pupil diameter in length, and five wide bars across the body. Eviota pinocchioi has a dorsal/anal fin-ray formula of 9/8, always lacks the POP and IT pores and the PITO and AITO pores are fused in about 50% of the specimens, unbranched pectoral-fin rays, males with filamentous dorsal-fin spines, tubular anterior nares black and very long, almost equal to the pupil diameter, and six narrow bars across body.
Article
Two species of Eviota with red or orange bars crossing the body, a bifurcated 4th pelvic-fin ray with two long branches,and lacking many or all cephalic sensory-canal pores are described from Palau, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. Eviotajewettae has a dorsal/anal fin-ray formula of 8/8, 98% of the specimens lack all cephalic sensory-canal pores, 2–4 lowerpectoral-fin rays branched; non-filamentous dorsal-fin spines; short tubular anterior nares that are not black and are lessthan ½ pupil diameter in length, and five wide bars across the body. Eviota pinocchioi has a dorsal/anal fin-ray formulaof 9/8, always lacks the POP and IT pores and the PITO and AITO pores are fused in about 50% of the specimens, un-branched pectoral-fin rays, males with filamentous dorsal-fin spines, tubular anterior nares black and very long, almost equal to the pupil diameter, and six narrow bars across body.
Article
Eviota epiphanes has been the only Eviota species known from the Hawaiian Islands, but two additional undescribed species have been discovered. Eviota susanae n. sp. Is described from shallow, sheltered habitats within Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, and Eviota rubra n. sp. from deeper spur and groove or ledge habitats outside Kaneohe Bay. Both species share a possible synapomorphy, rugose genital papillae in both males and females. Both species also differ from E. epiphanes by having a short, unbranched fifth ray on the pelvic fins and the absence of the IT pore.