Eviota fallax Greenfield & Allen, 2012
Twin Dwarfgoby
Eviota fallax
photo by Allen, G.R.

Family:  Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobiinae
Max. size:  1.81 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 8 - 31 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Indonesia (Bali, West Papua, Banda, and Sangihe Island), Papua New Guinea (Kimbe, New Britain), Solomon Islands, Philippines, Micronesia (Chuuk, Yap, and Ngulu Atoll), and Japan (Ryukyu Islands).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 8-8. This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following characters: dark occipital spot, more well-developed in males and in preservation; an orange spot behind the eye in life; cephalic sensory-pore system pattern Group I (complete); dorsal/anal formula often 9/8; eye diameter 26.7-34.4% HL; caudal-peduncle depth 10.9-12.4% SL; 4th pelvic-fin ray with short, thick branches bound together by membranes (Ref. 79588).
Biology:  Inhabits rocky caverns or coral heads on sand seen most frequently at depths of about 8-15 m on either live coral (frequently faviids) or on rocky surfaces covered with coralline algae patches (Ref. 79588).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 06 March 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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