Two new dwarfgobies (Gobiidae) from southern Japan: Eviota amamiko and Eviota perspicilla

Abstract

Two new dwarfgobies, Eviota amamiko and Eviota perspicilla, are described from southern Japan, based on 3 (Ryukyu Islands) and 22 (Satsuma Peninsula and Koshiki, Osumi, and Amami islands) specimens, respectively. Eviota amamiko, belonging to a group lacking cephalic sensory-canal pores, can be distinguished from all other members of Eviota in having the following combination of characters: dorsal/anal fin-ray formula 8/8; 14 or 15 pectoral-fin rays; 5th pelvic-fin ray absent or rudimentary; urogenital papillae of both sexes not fimbriate; five dark brown irregularly shaped (usually X- or Y-like) bars on body; two narrow diagonal red lines below eye; anal-fin base with two reddish-brown spots; no dark spots on caudal peduncle over preural centrum; and caudal-fin base without crescentic marks. Although similar to Eviota japonica Jewett and Lachner 1983, Eviota prasina (Klunzinger 1871), and Eviota queenslandica Whitley 1932, E. perspicilla is clearly distinct from all other congeners in having the following combination of characters: cephalic sensory-canal pore system pattern 2 [lacking only pore H (IT)]; dorsal/anal fin-ray formula 9/8; some pectoral-fin rays branched; dorsal-fin spine not filamentous in both sexes; pelvic fin very long, its tip usually beyond anal-fin origin when appressed [length 26.7–38.9 (mean 34.7) % of standard length]; urogenital papillae of both sexes not fimbriate; five dark postanal bars (spots in preserved specimens) and two dark postocular spots present; two dark spots on pectoral-fin base; no dark spots under pectoral-fin base; distinct dark caudal-peduncle spot over preural centrum; and spinous dorsal fin blackish overall, with two small translucent white circular spots on its base.