RESEARCH ARTICLE

Eviota vader, a new western Pacific dwarfgoby from Papua New Guinea (Teleostei: Gobiidae)

David W. Greenfield, Mark V. Erdmann & Nesha K. Ichida

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.

CITATION:

Greenfield D.W., Erdmann, M.V. & Ichida, N.K. (2025) Eviota vader, a new western Pacific dwarfgoby from Papua New Guinea (Teleostei: Gobiidae). Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation, 43, 39-44.

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15786577

publication date: 3 July 2025