A new species and two newly recorded species of Eviota (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from Taiwan

Abstract

A new species and two new records of marine gobies from the genus Eviota were discovered in Taiwan between 2017 and 2023. The new species, Eviota rubrostriata n. sp., was found in eastern Taiwan and is more related to the E. zebrina complex, both morphologically and genetically. Bayesian analysis suggests it has a closer phylogenetic relationship to E. pseudozebrina from Fiji. The new species can be easily distinguished from other congeners by the following unique combination of features: (1) second dorsal fin I/8, anal fin I/7, pectoral fin 14; (2) longitudinal scale rows 23-24; (3) typical head canal pattern type 2; (4) fifth pelvic fin rays about 8-10% of fourth pelvic fin rays; (5) mouth large, extending to middle vertical of eye; and (6) specific coloration: ventral profile after anus with 6-7 main blackish brown spots; infraorbital band wide, deep red through posterior upper lip to lower lip; opercle with a horizontal blackish brown triangular stripe; eye with 5 main brown red regions; first dorsal fin with red spots in distal filamentous anterior 2 spinous rays in male; pectoral fin base with an orange band between two snow white bars; caudal fin base with a vertical black line, in front of the line with a pentagon shape of large black spot; and bright yellow above and below the black spot. Two new records of Eviota species from Taiwan are Eviota storthynx (Rofen, 1959) from eastern Taiwan and Eviota rubriguttata Greenfield & Suzuki, 2011 from Penghu, western Taiwan. A brief discussion of the new species with related species is also included.