Leopard Dwarfgoby

Dorsal to anal fin-ray formula 8/7; caudal fin rounded, slightly shorter than head.

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

Occurs in coral reefs or rubble bottoms.

Eviota pardalota

Eviota stigmapteron Clark, 1968:6 [in part].

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—31 specimens from several localities in the Red Sea, totaling 11 males, 12 females, 8 juveniles; size range 9.1–18.8; largest male 18.8, largest female 17.4, no gravid females found.

Holotype: USNM 218006 (17.4), female; Gulf of Suez, Ettur, N of Sharm el Sheikh; 27 Sep 1969, V. G. Springer 69–29.

Paratypes: USNM 218007, 3 (11.4–17.4), 2 juv., 1 male (17.4); same data as holotype. ETHIOPIA (coastal and insular areas): ANSP 138901, 2 (10.3, 13.2), juv.; Sheikh el Abu, W of S end of Harat I., 14 Aug 1969, V. G. Springer 69–14. USNM 218008, 2 (11.3, 12.0), females; mouth of Melita Bay, 13 Aug 1969, V. G. Springer 69–13. CAS 40597, 7 (12.6–16.0), 1 juv., 2 males (15.3), 4 females (16.0); Ethiopian naval base, Massawa, 12 Aug 1969, V. G. Springer 69–12. USNM 218009, 1 (13.3), male; Isola Delemme, E of Ras Coral, 7 Aug 1969, V. G. Springer 69–9. GULF OF AQABA: USNM 191717, 1 (18.8), male; Elat, 5–9 Sep 1960, E. Clark. USNM 218010, 1 (14.4), male; between Marsa Mokrakh and El Himeira, 15 Jul 1969, V. G. Springer 69–1. AMS I.20061–001, 1 (14.4), female; N of Ras Burqa, 23 Jul 1969, V. G. Springer 69–7. USNM 218011, 7 (10.5–18.3), 1 juv., 4 males (18.3), 2 females (16.2); Marsa Muqabila, 29 Jul 1969, V. G. Springer 69–8. USNM 218012, 2 (12.6, 16.3), juv. and male; N of Ras Burqa, 5 Sep 1969, V. G. Springer 69–21.

Nontype Material: HUJ E62/514, 3 (9.1–13.5), 1 juv., 2 females (13.5); Dahlak Archipelago, Entedebir, 7 Apr 1962, E. Clark.

DIAGNOSIS.—Pectoral fin rays 3–16 may be branched, 10–14 always branched; spinous dorsal fin elongate or filamentous in both sexes, longer in males; fifth pelvic fin ray small, one-tenth length of fourth ray or rudimentary; head with large dark spots, about the size of the pupil, nape with similar spots or transverse bars; 2 large dark spots on fleshy base of pectoral fin; a series of dark spots on trunk along the dorsal and ventral midlines.

DESCRIPTION.—Dorsal fin rays VI–I,7(2), VI–I,8 (26); anal fin rays I,6(2), I,7(26); pectoral fin rays 15(19), 16(9); pelvic fin rays I,4 + a rudiment (8), I,41/10(20); fourth ray of pelvic fin with an average of 8.1 branches, ranges 5–10; number of segments between consecutive branches of the fourth pelvic fin ray averages 1.8, ranges 1–4; pelvic fin membrane reduced; branched caudal fin rays 13(4), 14(5); segmented caudal fin rays 17(27); lateral rows 23(1), 24(21); transverse scale rows 5(1), 6(21).

The scale structure is similar to that described for E. zebrina. There are 8–14 primary radii and 1–2 secondary radii in the anterior field; posterior margin of scale with a single row of 19–28 ctenii.

Both sexes may have elongate and filamentous first and second dorsal fin spines, the first usually longer; spines I–II may reach end of base of second dorsal fin in males, and in females both spines may extend to base of third dorsal fin ray. Pelvic fin long, always extending beyond origin of anal fin. Breast scaleless.

The cephalic sensory pore system is pattern 1 and the cutaneous papillae system represents pattern A.

Genital papilla in male without fimbriations, the tip slightly fringed, its length extending just beyond anal fin spine; female with short, bulbous papilla, not extending beyond anal fin spine and with 4 fingerlike projections at each side of tip.

Vertebrae 10(12) precaudal and 16(12) caudal, total, 26.

COLOR IN PRESERVATION.—Head with dark spots (about the size of pupil) dorsally, laterally, and ventrally those on occipital area darker, larger, and sometimes joined to form transverse bars; spots ventrally on head small and weak; cheek with about 4 circular spots and a prominent vertical bar from eye to rictus; snout with moderate to weak spotting and faint pigmentation; spots crowded dorsally on head immediately behind eyes.

Predorsal area on trunk has 2–3 short, transverse dark bars, the posteriormost bar sometimes segmented into 2 lateral spots and the posterior bars sometimes connecting laterally.

Two dark spots, about the size of pupil, on upper and lower fleshy base of pectoral fin, weak scattered chromatophores between spots.

A series of 10 spots along dorsal midline from about base of second spine of first dorsal fin to procurrent rays of caudal fin, the first to third spots passing onto base of spinous dorsal fin, and the fourth to sixth spots passing onto second dorsal fin, leaving clear spaces between spots.

A series of 6 dark spots along ventral midline from origin of anal fin to procurrent caudal fin rays, spots 1–2 adjacent to anal fin, spots 3–6 on caudal peduncle; spots 1–5 are associated with vertical subcutaneous bars extending dorsally on trunk.

Scales laterally over most of trunk with heavily pigmented scale pockets.

Pectoral fin rays with fine dark chromatophores, the membrane clear. Pelvic fins clear. Two weak to moderately developed dark spots on each side of anterior base of pelvic fins. First dorsal fin with 3 broad, oblique, bandlike marks, extending upward from the first 3 dorsal midline trunk spots, more or less joined in midsection of fin, leaving clear areas between dark basal spots. The filamentous dorsal spines have small dark spots to tip. Second dorsal fin dusky, the spine and rays with small dark spots in a linear series of 3–4 rows, usually poorly developed. Anal fin uniformly dusky with a narrow, clear margin; area at base of anal fin between midline spots pale. Caudal fin dusky with a series of 4–5 irregularly arranged small spots on most branched rays, moderately developed. Weak vertical bar at base of fin rays.

Five weak to moderately developed subcutaneous bars aligned with the ventral midline spots, and a weak sixth bar on lower trunk above the sixth spot; third and fourth bars merge along midline and form a single bar on upper trunk; fifth bar widens at midline and may be divided at midline but is single above and below. Three weak, wide subcutaneous bars on belly region, not joined along ventral midline, posteriormost just lateral of anal aperture.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION.—A species endemic to the Red Sea, taken at three general localities: the Gulf of Aqaba, Gulf of Suez, and the coastal and insular areas of Ethiopia.

ETYMOLOGY.—The specific name pardalota is from the Greek word pardos, meaning “spotted like a leopard,” in reference to the numerous body spots characterizing this species.