RESEARCH ARTICLE

Redescription of the Fijian dwarfgoby Eviota cometa (Teleostei: Gobiidae)

David W. Greenfield & Mark V. Erdmann

Abstract

The holotype and paratypes of the dwarfgoby Eviota cometa Jewett & Lachner, 1983 were described from the Fiji Islands, but, unfortunately, non-type specimens of another closely related species from Fiji and other central and western Pacific localities were also included in the description, resulting in ongoing confusion over the identity of E. cometa. This second species, frequently illustrated in the literature as E. cometa, was recently described as Eviota oculineata Tornabene, Greenfield & Erdmann, 2021. Eviota cometa is redescribed here using only material collected from Fiji. Eviota cometa is distinguished from the other species by having thin, red, diagonal bars crossing the caudal fin in life; a solid dark-reddish iris; a two-part, black, basicaudal spot over the preural centrum; usually 16 or 17 pectoral-fin rays; and a dorsal/anal fin-ray formula of 9/8. The species is known only from Fiji and Tonga.

CITATION:

Greenfield D.W. & Erdmann, M.V. (2021) Redescription of the Fijian dwarfgoby Eviota cometa (Teleostei: Gobiidae). Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation, 38, 104-112.

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5706035

publication date: 16 November 2021