Indian Dwarfgoby

Eviota indica

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—141 specimens from 2 areas in the western Indian Ocean, totaling 66 males, 49 females, 26 juveniles; total size range 8.1–15.4; largest male 15.4, largest female 14.4; smallest gravid female 11.6.

Holotype: USNM 219663, (15.4), male; St. Brandon Shoals, 0.5 mi S of Isle Raphael, 12 Apr 1976, V. G. Springer, 76–20.

Paratypes: ST. BRANDON SHOALS: RUSI 2219, 12 (8.1–13.8), 3 juv., 2 males (13.0), 7 females (13.8); Raphael I., 18 Mar 1971, T. H. Fraser, SA-36. COLLECTED BY V. G. SPRINGER IN 1976: USNM 219664, 1 female (13.4); 30 Mar, VGS 76-1. AMNH 39038, 9 (11.6–13.9), 3 males (13.7), 6 females (13.9); east of Raphael I., 3 Apr, VGS 76-7. AMS 1.20806-001, 13 (11.4–13.5), 4 juv., 4 males (13.5), 5 females (12.7); east of Raphael I., 4 Apr, VGS 76-8. USNM 220896, 1 (15.5), male; Grande Passe, 5 Apr, VGS 76-9. USNM 220897, 1 (14.2), male; northern tip, 6 Apr, VGS 76-10. USNM 219667, 36 (10.4-14.3), 7 juv., 18 males (14.3), 11 females (13.9); Raphael I., 8 Apr, VGS 76-12. CAS 43544, 9 (9.9–13.6), 3 juv., 4 males (13.1), 2 females (13.6); 11 Apr, VGS 76-17. USNM 219666, 18 (12.6–14.8), 3 juv., 9 males (14.8) and 6 females (14.4); same data as holotype.

Other Material: SEYCHELLES ISLANDS: (collected by J. E. Böhlke in 1964): ANSP 141215, 2 (11.7–12.4), females; Mahé I., 31 Jan–2 Feb, F-13 and/or F-17. ANSP 141217, 20 (8.5–14.1), 5 juv., 12 males (14.1), 3 females (11.7); Mahé vic., 2 Feb, F-17. USNM 219665, 15 (10.6–15.3), 9 males (15.3), 6 females (13.4); Mahé vic., 10 Feb, F-37. ANSP 141216, 4 (8.8–10.9), 1 juv., 3 males (10.9); Praslin vic., 22 Feb, F-61.

DIAGNOSIS.—Pectoral fin rays 11–14 always branched; spinous dorsal fin not elongate or filamentous in either sex; fifth pelvic fin ray small or rudimentary, usually about one-tenth the length of the fourth pelvic fin ray; spinous dorsal fin mostly pale, much lighter than anal fin; chromatophores on cheek scattered, linearly arranged, or outlining patches on the cheek and preopercle; 6 dark subcutaneous bars and spots on lower trunk from origin of anal fin to end of caudal peduncle, in some specimens a seventh spot at procurrent rays; the same area of upper trunk with 5 bars. This species is most closely related to E. afelei, but differs in almost always having 8 dorsal fin rays rather than 9; a light to pale, rather than dark, spinous dorsal fin; cheek lacking distinct clusters of chromatophores; upper and lower margins of caudal fin dark rather than pale; the lower portion of caudal fin somewhat darker than upper compared to the uniform coloration in E. afelei; and the base of the pectoral fin with light upper and lower areas or spots, compared to various color patterns in E. afelei.

DESCRIPTION.—Dorsal fin VI–I,8(27), VI–1,9(2); anal fin 1,7(1), 1,8(27); pectoral fin 15(17), 16(11), 17(1); pelvic fin 1,4 + a rudiment (4), 1,4 1/10(25); fourth ray of pelvic fin with 6–13 branches, averaging 10.7; segments between the consecutive branches of the fourth pelvic fin ray 1–3, averaging 1.2; pelvic fin membrane reduced; branched caudal fin rays 12(10), 13(7), 14(1); segmented caudal fin rays 17(29); lateral scale rows 23(1), 24(6), 25(7); transverse scale rows 6(4), 7(1); breast scaleless. Scales with about 21–27 ctenii, 6–12 primary radii, and 1–3 secondary radii.

Spinous dorsal fin not elongate in either sex; pelvic fin usually reaches to origin of anal fin or beyond, shorter in some specimens.

The cephalic sensory pore system is pattern 2. Cutaneous papilla system is pattern B.

Genital papilla in male not fimbriate, broad, flattened, not reaching beyond anal spine, the tip not constricted or bilobed; female papilla bulbous with 3–4 fingerlike projections on each side of tip, the length at most extending to anal spine.

Gravid females range from 11.6 mm to 13.9 mm SL.

Vertebrae 10(25) precaudal and 15(1), 16(24) caudal, total 25(1), 26(24).

COLOR IN PRESERVATION.—Head mostly with large, scattered chromatophores, trunk pale, lacking any notable surface pigmentation. Males usually more heavily pigmented than females. Cheeks, chin, preopercle, and anterior breast with large dark chromatophores that are usually scattered, but may be arranged linearly, particularly on cheek, or outlining irregular, elongate areas on cheek; sometimes chromatophores form up to 6 transverse bars on nape; nape usually with a few scattered dark chromatophores; opercle pale or with some scattered chromatophores; base of pectoral fin with upper and lower pale areas separated by an oblique row of chromatophores or a wider, somewhat horizontal, hourglass-shaped pigmented area; trunk surface lacking pigmentation; 6 weak to moderate subcutaneous bars on lower posterior trunk, emerging as spots on ventral midline, from origin of anal fin to end of lower peduncle over hypural base; in some specimens an additional small spot is visible on ventral midline beneath midcaudal peduncle spot; upper posterior trunk with 5 bars, the fourth midway between the fourth and fifth lower bars, the fifth upper bar almost entirely integrated with the midcaudal peduncle spot; dark, subcutaneous midcaudal peduncle spot moderate to well developed, equal to or somewhat larger than pupil, deeper than wide, centrally located on peduncle or slightly more developed above midline than below; belly with 2–3 wide subcutaneous bars or with nearly uniform dusky pigmentation; spinous dorsal fin mostly pale, with a narrow dark margin distally, and with a weak speckled band through basal quarter of fin; basal band usually broken up and represented by weak, irregularly scattered pigmentation; spines bordered by fine dark chromatophores; second dorsal fin much like spinous fin, with fine pigmentation confined to borders of rays, some weak, scattered pigmentation in basal region of fin, and with a narrow, dark, distal margin; anal fin much darker than other fins, usually uniformly dark dusky with narrow pale margin; some specimens with a series of pale spots on the branched portions of the anal rays, giving an appearance of alternating dark and light spots; caudal fin dusky, darker on lower half with very dark narrow borders dorsally and ventrally in region of procurrent and unbranched fin rays, and to a lesser degree distally on fin; many specimens with alternating dark and pale spots on the fin rays, more developed on lower part of fin; pectoral fin membrane pale, rays bordered by fine, dark chromatophores; pelvic fin mostly pale, with a few scattered chromatophores.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION.—Restricted to the Seychelles Islands and St. Brandon Shoals in the Indian Ocean (Figure 38).

ETYMOLOGY.—The specific name indica is in reference to the geographic distribution of this species in the Indian Ocean.