Eviota punctulata Jewett & Lachner, 1983
Dotted dwarfgoby
Eviota punctulata
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobiinae
Max. size:  2.07 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 1 - 29 m
Distribution:  Western Central Pacific: Fiji where there are confirmed records from numerous localities. Other records from throughout the western Pacific Ocean may represent a species complex.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-10; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 7-8. This species is distinguished by the following characters: cephalic sensory-canal pore system lacking only the IT pore (pattern 2); branched pectoral-fin rays; dorsal/anal-fin formula 9/8; the fifth pelvic-fin ray is 10-20% of fourth ray; absence of postocular spot; without dark spot on preural centrum area nor prominent dark spots on pectoral-fin base; caudal fin with strong scattered well-spaced dark spots (Ref. 107299). Description: Colouration 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; longitudinal scale series 23-26; ctenoid scales, absent on head, nape, breast and pectoral fin base; separated pelvic fins, thin membrane joining bases; depth of body 4.2-5.4 in SL; male genital papillae non-fimbriate; extensive branching of 4th pelvic ray (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Inhabits sheltered reefs in 1-20 m (Ref 90102). Occupies a limited range of substrates: dead reef, dead reef with silty sand, silt, and also fine sand (Ref. 116739).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 09 March 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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