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| Eviota vader Greenfield, Erdmann & Ichida, 2025 |
Abstract
A new species of dwarfgoby, Eviota vader, is described from McLaren Fjord, Tufi, Papua New Guinea. The new species is characterized by a distinctive purplish-black coloration not found on any other species of dwarfgoby. In addition to the unusual color, it is diagnosed by the combination of a complete cephalic sensory-canal pore system, a dorsal/anal fin-formula of 8/7, some branched pectoral-fin rays, the fifth pelvic-fin ray present, and no dark occipital spots or any dark spots at the base of dorsal or caudal fins. The species is apparently endemic to the Tufi region of Papua New Guinea, a location known to have microendemic species.
Key words: taxonomy, ichthyology, coral-reef fishes, gobies, new species, microendemic, Tufi, black dwarfgoby
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| Eviota vader, holotype, CAS 249349, 11.5 mm SL, male, Tufi, Papua New Guinea anesthetized and underwater, (photo reversed) (M.V. Erdmann).preserved holotype, (D.W. Greenfield). |
Eviota vader, n. sp.
Black Dwarfgoby
Diagnosis. A species of Eviota distinguished from all congeners by a combination of a complete cephalic sensory-canal pore system (pattern 1), a dorsal/anal fin-ray formula 8/7, some pectoral-fin rays branched, fifth pelvic-fin ray present, no dark occipital spots or any dark spots at the base of dorsal or caudal fins, and a broad and fringed male urogenital papilla. Entire body and fins purplish black.
Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the fictional dark figure Darth Vader in the Star Wars movie franchise (Fig. 3), referring to the fact that it is the darkest of all described dwarfgobies. It is treated as a noun in apposition.
David W. Greenfield, Mark V. Erdmann and Nesha K. Ichida. 2025. Eviota vader, A New western Pacific Dwarfgoby from Papua New Guinea (Teleostei: Gobiidae). Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation. 43, 39–44. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.15786577https://oceansciencefoundation.org/josf43c.html
