Christmas dwarfgoby

📖 Overview

Christmas dwarfgoby (Eviota natalis) is a ray-finned fish of the family Gobiidae. It inhabits marine (saltwater) waters in reef-associated environments. This species can reach a maximum total length of 2.1 cm. It occurs at depths between 8 and 15 metres. With a trophic level of 3.1, it is a low-level carnivore, feeding on invertebrates and small organisms. It is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 10; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 8 - 9. This species possess the following characters: D VI-I,9-10; A I,8-9; pectoral rays 17-19, pectoral rays 10-19 may be branched, 13-17 always branched except smallest paratype without branched rays; pelvic rays 1,4 1/10 (6) or 1.4 2/10 (1), fourth ray with 6-10 primary branches, averaging 8; with 1 or sometimes 2 segments between consecutive branches of the fourth pelvic-fin ray; well developed pelvic-fin membrane; branched caudal-fin rays 11-13, or 1 damaged; segmented caudal-fin rays 17; lateral scale rows 24 or 25; transverse scale rows 7 or 8; breast naked; naked area of forehead extending posteriorly in a narrow strip along base of dorsal fin. The cephalic pore system conforms with pattern 1 of Lachner and Karnella (1980); very small anterior interorbital pore (AITO); cutaneous papilla system conforms with pattern A of Lachner and Karnella (1980). The first dorsal spine is variable in length, often elongate in adults, extending as far as the caudal peduncle in some individuals, this elongate first dorsal filament is easily damaged and missing in the holotype and some paratypes. Male genital papilla not fimbriate, flattened and relatively elongate with fringe of tiny papillae along distal edge, its maximum length extending slightly beyond origin of anal fin; female papilla short, bulbous, with several finger-like projections, extending to anal spine . Dorsal to anal fin-ray formula 9/8 .: elongated; Cross section: oval.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Christmas dwarfgoby is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Christmas dwarfgoby is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Reproduction data for Christmas dwarfgoby is currently being compiled.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 8 - 15 m . Tropical Indian Ocean: Christmas Island.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

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