A new species of dwarfgoby, Eviota bilunula, is described from Fiji. The new species is distinguished by having the cephalic sensory-canal pore system lacking only the IT pore (pattern 2), a dorsal/anal fin-ray formula of 7/7 or 8/7; all pectoral-fin rays unbranched, a 5th pelvic-fin ray of moderate length, a narrow dark bar at the caudalfin base, a red line extending down from under the eye to the jaws, five postanal ventral-midline spots, and two distinctive black crescent-shaped marks underneath the pectoral fin. The description is based on two specimens and a photograph of a third. The species is most similar to E. flebilis from Japan, which does not share the crescent-shaped marks. Eviota flebilis, previously known only from the holotype, is redescribed based on two additional specimens.

Key words: taxonomy, systematics, ichthyology, coral-reef fishes, gobies, dwarfgoby, Pacific Ocean.

Eviota bilunula, n. sp.  ||  Crescent Dwarfgoby

Etymology. The specific epithet is a nominative singular feminine adjective combining the Latin bi (two) and lunula (little moon), in reference to the two distinctive black crescent-shaped marks underneath the pectoral fin.

Distribution. Known only from Fiji. Specimens were collected at 13.5 m depth.

Eviota flebilis, Greenfield, Suzuki & Shibukawa, 2014

Tearful Dwarfgoby

Etymology. The specific epithet is a nominative singular feminine adjective from Latin for tearful, in reference to the characteristic tear-like red marking below the eye.

Distribution. Collected and observed underwater only from Amami-oshima Island, Kerama Islands and Iriomote-jima, in the Ryukyu Islands of Japan (Suzuki et al. 2004). It has been photographed or collected from lagoon, slope, and drop-off coral-reef habitats.

David W. Greenfield and Toshiyuki Suzuki. 2016. Eviota bilunula, A New Dwarfgoby Species from Fiji, with A Redescription of Eviota flebilis (Teleostei: Gobiidae). Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation. 24, 1–9.  OceanScienceFoundation.org/josf24a.html