RESEARCH ARTICLE

Eviota stella, a new dwarfgoby from West Papua, Indonesia (Teleostei: Gobiidae)

David W. Greenfield, Mark V. Erdmann & Abraham Sianipar

A new species of dwarfgoby, Eviota stella, is described from Cenderawasih Bay, West Papua, Indonesia. The new species is distinguished by having the cephalic sensory-canal pore system lacking only the IT pore (Pattern II); the dorsal/anal fin-ray formula 9/8, some pectoral-fin rays branched; and the fifth pelvic-fin ray rudimentary or less than 10% of the fourth pelvic-fin ray. The color pattern is characterized by two colon-like, prominent, dark round spots on the pectoral-fin base; 5 postanal dark body bars; and rounded postocular dark spots. These features of the new species are shared with sister species E. queenslandica and E. perspicilla, but it can be distinguished from both by having a single dark band along the base of the first dorsal fin vs. three oblique dark bands in the other species. Eviota queenslandica is further distinguished from its two close relatives by having a diagnostic dark round spot below the pectoral-fin base. In life, the new species is characterized by having close-set fine white spots over the upper iris and the fins are peppered with small blue spots

CITATION:

Greenfield D.W., Erdmann, M.V. & Sianipar, A (2026) Eviota kathyae a new dwarfgoby from West Papua, Indonesia (Teleostei: Gobiidae). Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation, 47, 1-7.

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20937514

publication date: 26 June 2026