Epaulet Dwarfgoby

Dorsal spines (total): 6 - 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7 - 8; Analspines: 1; Analsoft rays: 6 - 7

Inhabits shallow silty inshore reefs (Ref. 48637). Collected on algal turf at 2 m (Ref. 37816).

aquarium: commercial

Eviota infulata (Smith)

Eviotops infulatus Smith, 1956:826, fig. 4 [type-locality:Mahé, Seychelles].

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—217 specimens from 16 localities, totaling 180 males, 35 females, 2 juveniles; total size range 7.6–19.5; largest male 19.5, largest female 14.0; smallest gravid female 8.9.

Holotype: RUSI 223, (15.5), male; Seychelles Is., Mahé.

Paratypes: USNM 181858, 3 (10.0–13.5), males; Seychelles Is., 28 Sep 1954, J.L.B. Smith. USNM 209224, 1 (11.4), male; Seychelles Is., Mahé, Sep 1954, J.L.B, and M. M. Smith, formerly RUSI 636.

Other Material: WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN: SEYCHELLES ISLANDS: ANSP 141163, 1 (8.2), male; Mahé vic., 11 Feb 1964, J. Böhlke, F-44. ASNP 141164, 10 (8.1–15.3), males; Praslin I., 22 Feb 1964, J. Böhlke, F-59, CAS 43549, 1 (13.3), male; same data as above. MASCARENE ISLANDS: RUSI 2215, 4 (10.1–12.0), males; St. Brandon Shoals, 18 Mar 1971, T. H. Fraser, SA-36. WESTERN AUSTRALIA: WAM P.25315-003, 4 (14.0–16.5), 3 males (16.5), 1 female (14.0); Abrolhos Is., 20 May 1975, G. Allen. QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA: ONE TREE ISLAND: AMS I.20208022, 3 (11.2–12.6), 2 males (11.5), 1 female (12.6); 27 Sep 1971, D. Hoese, 71-13. AMS I.20201-014, 3 (11.7–12.0), 1 male (11.7), 2 females (12.0); 29 Sep 1971, D. Hoese, 71-17. LACM 33723–27, 1 (13.4), male; Australian Museum staff, DFH 72-79. USNM 213874, 1 (12.3), male; 30 Nov 1966, V. G. Springer, 66–13. LITTLE HOPE ISLAND (collected in 1969 by C. L. Smith): AMNH 39039, 1 (11.1), male; 21 Jan. AMNH 39040, 2 (10.1, 10.5), females; 21 Jan, S69-28. AMNH 39041, 1 (11.9), male; 2 Jan, S69–1. USNM 213880, 2 (10.4, 13.0) males; 21 Jan, S69–30. ENDEAVOUR REEF (collected in 1969 by J. Tyler and C. L. Smith): ANSP 141161, 3 (8.3–9.5), males; 4 Jan, TS,A–3. ANSP 141162, 1 (8.3), male; 5 Jan, TS,A-4. ANSP 141160, 6 (9.4–12.0), males; 6 Jan, TS,A-5. ANSP 141159, 13 (8.5–12.2), males; 15 Jan, TS,A-16. CAS 43551, 2 (10.7, 10.8), males; 11 Jan, TS,A–11. USNM 213870, 4 (9.8–10.2), 3 males (10.2), 1 female (10.2); 14 Jan, TS,A-15. USNM 213873, 21 (8.9–11.6), 11 males (11.6), 10 females (10.7); 14 Jan, S69-16. AMNH 39042, 2 (10.0, 10.9), males; 5 Jan, S69-5. AMNH 39043, 4 (10.0–10.6), males; 6 Jan, S69-6. AMNH 39044, 10 (9.1–11.3), 9 males (11.3), 1 female (9.7); 6 Jan, S69-7. CAROLINE ISLANDS: PALAU ISLANDS: CAS 43737, 2 (10.6, 12.5), males; Iwayama Bay, 22 Jul 1955, H. A. Fehlmann, sta 30, GVF Reg. 529. CAS 43764, 1 (9.9), male; Kayuangel I., 7 Oct 1956, Scott, sta 156, GVF 942. CAS 43740, 2(10.6, 11.5), males; Koror I., 23 Jul 1955, Fehlmann, sta 33, GVF Reg. 532. USNM 213884, 1 (10.4), female; Babelthaup-Koror Causeway, 5 Aug 1956, Fehlmann, sta 41, GVF Reg. 827. USNM 213885, 1 (12.5), male; Ngaruangl reef, 5 Oct 1956, Fehlmann, sta 139, GVF Reg. 925. KAPINGAMARANGI ATOLL (collected by R. R. Harry in 1954): CAS 43728, 1 (9.6), male; Ringutoru I., 11 Aug, sta 133, GVF Reg. 436. CAS 43716, 1 (10.5), male; between Nanakita and Parakahi Is., 23 Jul, sta 71, GVF Reg. 374. CAS 43726, 1 (9.7), male; Tirakau I., 6 Aug, sta 117, GVF Reg. 420. USNM 213869, 5 (7.6–10.5), 1 juv., 3 males (10.5), 1 female (9.6); Hare I., 4 Aug, sta 107, GVF Reg. 410. GILBERT ISLANDS: AMS I.18043-005, 1 (11.6), male; Abaiang Atoll, 6 Nov 1973, D. Hoese. LINE ISLANDS: BPBM 14065, 1 (12.6), male; Fanning I., Aug 1972. CAS 43695, 12 (9.5–17.3), 10 males (17.3), 2 females (12.2); Palmyra I., 10 Aug 1951, sta 51-GV-45, GVF Reg. 45. CAS 43697, 4 (12.0–13.5), 2 males (12.6), 2 females (13.5); Palmyra I., 20 Aug 1951, sta 51-GV-48, GVF Reg. 48. CAS 43694,62 (7.7–19.5), 1 juv., 53 males (19.5), 8 females (12.0); Palmyra I., 15 Aug 1951, sta 51-GV-44, GVF Reg. 44. SOCIETY ISLANDS: USNM 213881, 2 (10.0, 9.0), male and female; Tahiti, Papeari, 22 Apr 1970, C. L. Smith, S70–48. AMNH 39045, 2 (10.7, 11.3), males; Tahiti, Papeari, 23 Apr 1970, C. L. Smith, S70-51. AMNH 39046, 1 (9.9), male; Huahine, 4 Apr 1970, C. L. Smith, S70-7. AUSTRAL ISLANDS: AMNH 39047, 1 (11.0), female; Rapa, 15 Apr 1970, C. L. Smith, S70–35. TUAMOTU ARCHIPELAGO: CAS 43699, 3 (8.6–10.1), 2 males (10.1), 1 female (10.0); Raroia Atoll, 30 Jun 1952, R. R. Harry, Sta 7, GVF Reg. 61. USNM 213882, 1 (13.1), male; Raroia Atoll, 23 Jul 1952, R. R. Harry, sta 28, GVF Reg. 82. BPBM 13602, 1 (15.7), male; Mangareva, 14 Dec 1970, J. E. Randall.

DIAGNOSIS.—Pectoral rays simple; first and second spines of spinous dorsal fin elongate and filamentous in males; rays of pelvic fins highly fringed; the fifth pelvic fin ray conspicuous, about three-tenths length of fourth ray; nasal pores and sensory canals absent, AITO present, opening anteriorly and positioned far forward; a large, dark irregular mark, sometimes W-shaped, on trunk just above and posterior to the base of pectoral fin.

DESCRIPTION.—Dorsal fin rays VI-I,7(3), VI-I,8(22), V-I,7(1); anal fin rays I,6(2), I,7(23); pectoral toral fin rays 13(4), 14(10), 15(10); pelvic fin rays I,4 1/10(1), I,4 2/10(8), I,4 3/10(11), I,4 4/10(2); branches on fourth pelvic fin ray average 11.2; segments between consecutive branches of the fourth pelvic fin ray usually 2; pelvic fin membrane well developed; branched caudal fin rays 10(1), 11(13), 12(1); segmented caudal fin rays 16(1), 17(23), 18(1); lateral scale rows 21(3), 22(5), 23(2); transverse scale rows 5(9), 6(5); scales with a single row of ctenii numbering 15–30 on posterior margin; anterior field with about 6–13 radii; almost always none in lateral fields; no posterior radii; scales highly eccentric, the radii of the anterior field meeting in a moderately to broad focal area; breast usually without scales, but some specimens with 1–2 embedded scales, 0 scales (31 specimens), 1(9), 2(1).

First and second dorsal spines elongate, filamentous in males, the first spine always longer and, when depressed, it may reach the posterior tip of the second dorsal fin; spinous dorsal filamentous at about 10 mm; pelvic fins almost always extend well beyond origin of anal fin.

The cephalic sensory pore system is pattern 4. Cutaneous papilla system is a variation of pattern B–1.

Genital papilla in male simple, elongate, extending to the first anal ray, tapering slightly, the tip moderately flared and bilobed; female papilla bulbous, sometimes extending to the origin of the anal fin.

Vertebrae 10(,10), 11(2) precaudal and 14(2), 15(10), caudal, total 25.

COLOR IN PRESERVATION.—A prominent, dark brown W-shaped mark or irregular blotch anteriorly on trunk, above and just posterior to base of pectoral fin, its depth and width about equal to or somewhat larger than diameter of eye; remainder of head and trunk with pale to light brown, scattered melanophores, these mostly on cheek and preopercular area below eye and on head dorsally behind eye; predorsal area with three narrow, dark brown spots along midline; a patch of scattered melanophores behind eye, midway between the eye and upper edge of opercle, sometimes joined with cheek patch; a more concentrated group of small brown, doughnutlike melanophores with light centers preceding the large W-shaped mark; scattered melanophores at base of scales dorsolaterally posterior to W-shaped mark, few in number and dissipating below second dorsal fin; scattered doughnut-shaped pale to intense pigmentation on base and behind base of pectoral fin, descending ventrally on breast and belly to posterior margins of gill membrane; a small, brown midchin spot below vertical through middle of eye; first dorsal fin with a dark brown to blackish band on lower one-third of fin, sharply defined from the lighter, upper portion, the distal edge dusky; filamentous spines blackish; second dorsal fin dark brown to black with the outer anterior portion light to transparent; anal fin dark brown to blackish; spines and rays in dorsal and anal fins clear, the membranes bear the dark color; pectoral and pelvic fins transparent; caudal fin dusky on outer fifth, the margin with a narrow, light border; some dusky pigment on margins of procurrent rays, often faint or absent; rays of caudal fin with fine brown spots, sometimes forming narrow, wavy vertical bands; a series of 7 spots and subcutaneous bars ventrally on trunk from origin of anal fin to caudal fin, the spots more pronounced on caudal peduncle; bars obscure on dorsal part of trunk; occasionally spots also on dorsal midline, from predorsal area to caudal fin; nares brownish; male genital papilla pale or lightly speckled. Smaller specimens, particularly females, have round to elongate, upper and lower patches of brown speckling at base of pectoral fin, the postscapular mark greatly reduced or absent, and the fins pale. This color pattern, although characteristic of the smaller specimens of both sexes, is retained in the females at larger sizes. There is great variation in the intensity of the color pattern, ranging from a subdued pattern to the intense coloration shown on Figure 55 of a specimen taken at St. Brandon Shoals. Smith (1956:827) described living colors.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION.—Wide-ranging, from islands in the western Indian Ocean, Caroline Islands, Great Barrier Reef, Line Islands, the Tuamotu Archipelago as far eastward as Mangareva and Rapa (Figure 56).

DISTRIBUTION.—Wide-ranging, extending from the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, and Sri Lanka eastward in southern Indonesia, west and northeast Australia eastward to the Samoa Islands (Figure 58).

3.4–15.5 m