Eviota melasma

Headspot Eviota | Black-spotted Pygmygoby | Headspot Pygmygoby | Melasma Pygmygoby

Eviota melasma, QLD, Australia, Photo: Graham Edgar

Similar Species

Eviota guttata

Same Genus

Eviota queenslandica (cf)

Eviota sp. (fasciola)

Eviota sp. (red)

Eviota sp. (sp 2)

Eviota sp. [atriventris]

Eviota sp. [cf hosei]

Eviota sp. [cf nigriventris]

Eviota sp. [green]

Eviota sp. [guttata cf]

Eviota sp. [melasma]

Eviota sp. [nigriventris]

Eviota sp. [punctulata]

Eviota sp. [red eyes]

Eviota sp. [sigillata]

Eviota sp. [Snowflake]

Eviota sp. [storthynx gold shield]

Eviota sp. [trans white & red streaks]

Eviota sp. [translucent]

Distribution

Tropical Indo-Pacific

Description

Translucent body covered with red and white specks, alternating red and white bands across back, pair of black spots on back above pectoral fins, behind head, although can be very difficult to see (likely able to be 'switched off'), and densely spotted yellow outer eye. Two squarish blotches on belly separated by white. Very similar E. guttata (Whitestriped Pygmygoby) has 3 red squares, and lacks spotted outer eyes.

Information

Max Size: 3 cm

Sea Temperature Range: 23.5-30.3°C

Depth: 1-44m

Habitat Generalization Index: 2.87

Also referred to as the SGI (Species Generalisation Index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species. Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here.

Conservation and Rarity

IUCN Status: Not Evaluated

Occurrence: Frequent (10.9% of sites)

Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed

Abundance: Several (6 per transect)

Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.

Edit by: Joe Shields

Further Information

Atlas of Living Australia