Nebulous Dwarfgoby

Characterized by semi-transparent, greenish-brown body with about six faint, internal dark bars; scale margins narrow orange-brown; short brown bars across top of head and along upper back; presence of dark internal blotches above anal fin and lower edge of caudal peduncle; upper portion of caudal peduncle with large black spot; eleventh to fifteenth pectoral rays usually branched; ctenoid scales, absent on head, nape and pectoral fin base; longitudinal scale series 23-24; separated pelvic fins, thin membrane joining bases; rudimentary fifth pelvic ray; average of 6-7 branches on fourth pelvic ray; depth of body 3.6-4.2 in SL (Ref. 90102). Dorsal to anal fin-ray formula 8/8.

Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8; Analspines: 1; Analsoft rays: 8 - 9

Inhabits shallow coral reefs to about 10 m (Ref 90102).

Eviota nebulosa Smith

Eviota nebulosa Smith, 1958:141, fig. 3 [type-locality: Pinda, Mozambique].—Larson, 1976:501.

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—138 specimens from 19 localities, totaling 48 males, 47 females, 43 juveniles; total size range 7.5–18.8; largest male 17.4, largest female 18.8; smallest gravid female 10.0.

Holotype: RUSI 259, (14.5), female; Mozambique, Pinda.

Paratype: USNM 209225, 1 (14.5), male ?; Mozambique, Pinda Reef, 3 Sep 1956, J.L.B. Smith.

Other Material: INDIAN OCEAN: SEYCHELLES ISLANDS: ANSP 141182, 1 (14.6), female; Mahé vic., 2 Feb 1964, J. Böhlke, F-17. ANSP 141185, 11 (9.7–15.5), 3 juv., 3 males (15.5), 5 females (15.1); Praslin vic., 22 Feb 1964, J. Böhlke, F-61. ANSP 141186, 1, (14.7), female; Beacon I., 5 Feb 1964, D. Dockins, F-25. CAS 43550, 5 (7.5–15.2), 2 juv., 1 male (13.2), 2 females (15.2); Beacon I., 3 Feb 1964, J. Böhlke, F-18. AMIRANTES ISLANDS (collected by J. E. Böhlke): ANSP 141183, 1 (11.4), female; D'Arros I., 5 Mar 1964, F-87. ANSP 141184, 9 (9.8–11.6), 3 juv., 2 males (11.1), 4 females (11.6); Remire Reef, 4 Mar 1964, F-82. USNM 213918, 5 (8.4–15.0), 1 juv., 3 males (15.0), 1 female (12.2); African I., 3 Mar 1964, F-80. ALDABRA ISLANDS: USNM 219629, 3 (13.4–16.8), 1 juv., 2 females (16.8); Aldabra Atoll, 18 Aug 1967, H. A. Fehlmann, 67-56. SRI LANKA (collected by C. C. Koenig in 1970): USNM 213905, 6 (9.1–18.8), 1 juv., 2 males (17.4), 3 females (18.8); Galle, 16 Feb, 69-108. USNM 213906, 1 (13.0) male; Hikkaduwa, 17 Feb, 69-109. USNM 213908, 38 (7.9–16.1), 24 juv., 6 males (16.1), 8 females (15.5); Trincomalee, 6 Apr, 69-141. USNM 213909, 2 (13.8, 14.2), male and female; Weligama, 15 Feb, 69-107. AMS I-20795-001, 5 (8.4–15.9) 2 juv., 2 males (15.9), 1 female (13.5); Trincomalee, 4 Apr, 69-135. USNM 213910, 4 (9.4–12.8), 2 juv., 2 males (12.8); Hikkaduwa, 12 Feb., 69-100. USNM 213911, 2 (10.4, 11.0), females; Hikkaduwa, 13 Feb, 69-103. INDONESIA: USNM 213912, 2 (12.5, 12.1), male and female; Java Sea, Seribu I., 5 Apr 1974, V. G. Springer, 74-34. USNM 213913 8 (7.8–12.4), 1 juv., 2 males (12.4), 5 females (12.3); Java Sea, Bawean I., 28 Mar 1974, V. G. Springer, 74-27. USNM 213914, 5 (9.4–12.8), 4 males (12.8), 1 female (10.3); Moluccas, Ambon I., 14 Mar 1974, V. G. Springer, 74-13. USNM 213915, 7 (8.8–14.8), 3 juv., 2 males (12.8), 2 females (14.8); Moluccas, Haruku I., 15 Jan 1973, V. G. Springer, 73-9. CAS 43541, 1 (12.9), female; Celebes Sea, Lembeh Strait, 21 Jun 1929, A. W. Herre. OCEANIA: CAS 43753, 4 (11.9–13.7), 3 males (13.7), 1 female (12.6); Palau Is., Auluptagel I., 8 Jul 1956, H. A. Fehlmann, sta 12, GVF Reg. 798. UG 4335, 3 (10.1–14.2), male; Marianas Is., Guam, 25 Feb 1970, R. Jones, RSO-01, 250270. LACM W63-283-3, 1 (12.3), male; Marshall Is., Eniwetok Atoll, 20 Jul 1963, W. J. Baldwin, W63-283. AMS I.17486-001, 1 (13.0), male; Solomon Is., Guadalcanal, 11 Jul 1973, G. R. Allen. USNM 213916, 1 (13.0), male; Santa Cruz Is., Vanikoro I., 16 Apr 1965, Bolin, Te Vega cr. 7, sta 259. QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA: ENDEAVOUR REEF (collected by C. L. Smith and J. Tyler): AMNH 39067, 2 (12.4, 13.3), females; 5 Jan 1969; S69-5. AMNH 39068, 1 (13.0) male; 16 Jan 1969, S69-19. CAPRICORN GROUP: AMS I.19338-019, 1 (13.6), male; One Tree I., 26 Nov 1969, F. Talbot 417. AMS I.20210-038, 1 (12.6), male; One Tree I., 5 Oct 1971, D. F. Hoese 71-26. PAPUA NEW GUINEA: USNM 217593, I (14.5), female; New Ireland, Lemus, 20–25 Jan 1976, T. R. Roberts.

Questionable Allocation: CAS 14128, 1 (11.5), male; Line Is., Palmyra I., 17 Aug 1951, E. S. Herald, 51-GV-46. BPBM 9391, 1 (13.4), male; Line Is., Fanning I., 31 Oct 1968, J. E. Randall. BPBM 22575, 1 (12.2), female; Line Is., Fanning I., 7 Jan 1970, W. Gosline. ANSP 141220, 1 (14.2), male; Australia, Endeavour Reef, 6 Jan 1969, C. L. Smith, TS,A-5. USNM 219429, 1 (9.6), juv.; Philippine Is., Palawan Prov., Bararin I., 23 May 1978, V. G. Springer and Smithsonian team, SP 78-20.

DIAGNOSIS.—Eleventh through the fifteenth pectoral fin rays usually branched; spinous dorsal fin not elongate; pelvic fin moderate in length, almost always extending to anal fin origin; fifth pelvic fin ray rudimentary; upper pectoral fin base with a light unpigmented area; caudal peduncle with a dark, quadrangular mark on upper half; ventral midline from anal origin to end of caudal peduncle with a series of dark spots, sometimes confluent with dark, vertical, subcutaneous trunk bars.

DESCRIPTION.—Dorsal fin VI-I,8(14); anal fin I,8(14), I,9(1); pectoral fin 14(1), 15(3), 16(8), 17(3); pelvic fin I,4(1), I,4 + a rudiment (14); fourth ray of pelvic fin averages 6.7 branches; segments between consecutive branches of the fourth pelvic fin ray number 1–2; pelvic fin membrane reduced; branched caudal fin rays 12(3), 13(5), 14(2); segmented caudal fin rays 17(14); lateral scale rows 23(15), 24(4); transverse scale rows 5(1), 6(12); scales with 23–31 ctenii, 11–5 radii; breast scaleless.

Spinous dorsal fin not elongate; pelvic fin moderate in length, sometimes reaching anal fin origin, rarely beyond; contour of snout moderately rounded to somewhat sharp.

Cephalic sensory pore system is pattern 1. Cutaneous papilla system is pattern A.

Sex identification by genital papilla is often difficult. Male papilla not fimbriate, short, usually not reaching anal spine, truncate or wider centrally, fringed at tip; female papilla short, bulbous with 4 or more fingerlike projections at tip that may be confused with fringed papilla of male.

Gravid females range in length from 10.0–12.3 mm SL (5).

Vertebrae 10(11) precaudal and 16(11) caudal, total 26.

COLOR IN PRESERVATION.—Specific color marks or patterns on particular areas of the body characteristic of this species vary within and among certain localities. The variation of each of these is described below.

Light Mark on Pectoral Base: An unpigmented area on upper base bordered anteriorly and ventrally by a series of brown chromatophores, remainder of fin base with scattered chromatophores; light area enlarged in some specimens; material from Australia is variable, specimens from Endeavour Reef have large, scattered chromatophores in the light, upper area and the lower base is pale brownish; specimens from One Tree Island have the typical light base or a reduced light area.

Dark Subcutaneous Caudal Peduncle Spot: A conspicuous quadrate spot, on upper half of caudal peduncle, near base of caudal fin; obscure in a few specimens; rarely connected below to the last, dark, narrower, ventral midline spot.

Five dark, ventral midline spots, usually well developed; less dense vertical, subcutaneous bars on trunk, 4 on upper portion and 5 on lower portion; fourth lower bar sometimes reduced; ventral midline spots integrate with lower trunk bars; spots and bars may be obscure, bars more so.

Predorsal Color Pattern on Head and Nape: Variable development, from transverse bars to scattered chromatophores; the transverse bars on nape are usually uniform and well developed, those on head are broken up into irregular spots, forming various patterns; the typical pattern most often found is that of the dark outlined bars and spots composed of large chromatophores, with less densely pigmented interiors; other variations from this pattern are bars and spots with densely pigmented interiors, nape bars broken into spots as on head, bars and spots barely discernible, sometimes obscure, with chromatophores scattered over head and nape. Traces of the predorsal crossbars are evident on the dorsal midline to about the origin of the second dorsal fin in some specimens.

Cheek Marks: These consist of scattered, large, dark brown chromatophores that are often arranged in linear groups; one group of usually 2 rows from the eye to the rictus, a second group from the eye obliquely to about the angle of the preopercle and a third, less distinct group behind the eye, more or less parallel to the second group, and sometimes joined with a transverse head bar.

First Dorsal Fin: Pale to light dusky bars interspersed with dusky to dark bars, 2 or 3 of each; bars sometimes irregular, giving the fin pattern a mottled appearance.

Other Fins: Second dorsal and anal fins light to dusky, sometimes lighter basally, and the dusky pigmentation sometimes mottled; anal fin often with light outer edge; caudal fin usually somewhat dusky; pectoral fins clear or with some dusky color; pelvic fins clear.

Scales: Pockets outlined with a row or two of large, dark brown chromatophores, more so dorsolaterally on trunk; background of trunk uniform pale brown to dark brown.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION.—The species is wide ranging, known from 19 localities from Mozambique, Africa, to the Line Islands (Figure 15).