Terry's dwarfgoby

Appearance

This species is distinguished by the following characters: complete cephalic sensory-canal pore pattern (pattern 1); dorsal/anal fin formula usually 9/8; pectoral-fin rays usually 18; spot lateral to pelvic-fin base absent; dark occipital spot absent; pectoral-fin base with no distinct dark pigmentation; without a dark spot on mid caudal peduncle; without transverse bars on head and nape; anal fin darker than other fins; in life, orange scale margins; presence of distinct dark spots on ventral side of head; iris reddish with scattered small light spots on dorsal surface; red blotches on sides are deeper than wide; some pectoral-fin rays are branched; fifth pelvic-fin ray about 10-15% of length of fourth ray; no membranes in pelvic fins and the branches are elongate and slender with 2 segments between branches. Max length : 2.1 cm SL male/unsexed; 1.7 cm SL (female).

Naming

Also known as Teresa's Pygmygoby.
Etymology: Eviota: No etymology given, suggested by Christopher Scharpt: from Latin 'eu' for 'true' and 'iota' for anything very small, in combination 'truly very small' referring to it as being the smallest vertebrate at the time it has benn described by Jenkins (thus, making the suggestion by Scharpt plausible.; teresae: Named for Teresa Arámbula; in genitive case

Distribution

Indo-Pacific: Fiji, Indonesia and Maldives.

Habitat

Tropical, marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 26 m.

Food

Amphipods, Copepods, Daphnia salina, Invertebrates, Zoobenthos, Zooplankton.