GOBIIDAE


Eviota nigriventris, 1.2 cm SL
(photo by Ukkrit Satapoomin)


Eviota nigriventris
Giltay, 1933
Blackstriped Pygmygoby

D VI + I, 9-10; A I, 8-9; P1 15-18; LR 21-23; PDS 0.

Body relatively short, compressed. Head slightly compressed; jaws subequal; gill opening not reaching anteriorly to a vertical through preopercular margin. Pelvic fins almost separated; frenum absent. Scales ctenoid; head, breast, and pectoral-fin base naked. Sensory canals and pores present on head; reduced longitudinal pattern of sensory-papillae rows on cheek; a pair of sensory papillae just behind chin. Color: when alive, head and body subtranslucent, with broad reddish brown or blackish stripe ending black spot at ventral half of caudalfin base; short longitudinal white line through dorsal part of eye on side of head, as well as mid-dorsal white line from upper lip to occipital region; lips blackish; ventral surface of head and belly white; fins transparent. Size: 1.9 cm SL. Distribution: Andaman Sea and West Pacific. Remarks: found in coral reefs; forms aggregation, and hovers around live corals.