Trimma blematium Winterbottom & Erdmann, 2018
Blue-eyed pygmygoby

Family:  Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobiinae
Max. size:  2.28 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 60 - 70 m
Distribution:  Southwestern Pacific: Papua New Guinea.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-9; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 8-8. This species is distinguished by the following characters: scales on cheeks and opercle; scales in predorsal midline 8-9; unbranched pectoral fin rays 16; branched 5th pelvic fin ray, 45-50% length of 4th ray; total gill rakers 20-22; broad interorbital (46-63% pupil width) with narrow crease-like postorbital trench ending at posterior-most papilla in row p; small nasal apparatus placed on the anterior one-third of snout with posterior nares forming posterodorsa margin of nasal sac; papillae in row p 7 (with a single papilla below row n); when alive or freshly collected, the dorsal surface of eye is dark blue; when preserved, with fairly evenly distributed melanophores over dorsal surface of snout (Ref. 118315).

Differs from Trimma meityae by having 16 pectoral fin rays (vs. 17-18), a branched 5th pelvic fin ray (vs. unbranched), with 7 papillae in row 'p' (vs. 8 papillae); and in live specimens, the blue colour over the top of the eyes is much darker in this species than in T. meityae (Ref. 118315).

Biology:  Observed in mixed rubble and sand habitat, on a deep reef slope (at 60-70 m depth) and exposed to significant current and cold-water upwelling (Ref. 118315).
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 07 September 2021 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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