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Headspot pygmygoby (Eviota melasma) — Gobiidae

Headspot pygmygoby

Eviota melasma
Family: Gobiidae

The Headspot pygmygoby (Eviota melasma) is a saltwater fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 3 cm.

Length
3 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0–44.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Oceania: Australia, Solomon Is., Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Cocos Is. (Keel), Fiji, Indonesia and others

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Description

The Headspot pygmygoby is a very small dwarfgoby (Gobiidae) from shallow reef water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 2-3 cm and has a slender, semi-translucent body with fine markings and large eyes. As a bottom-dweller it perches on or near coral and in crevices and snaps at small zooplankton and small invertebrates. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Headspot pygmygoby?

The Headspot pygmygoby has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Headspot pygmygoby live?

The Headspot pygmygoby lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Oceania: Australia, Solomon Is., Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Cocos Is. (Keel), Fiji, Indonesia and others

How big does the Headspot pygmygoby get?

The Headspot pygmygoby grows to a maximum of about 3 cm.

Is the Headspot pygmygoby dangerous to humans?

No, the Headspot pygmygoby is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

More photos

Headspot pygmygoby (Eviota melasma) — Gobiidae — 2
Williams, Jeffrey T. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Headspot pygmygoby (Eviota melasma) — Gobiidae — 3
Williams, Jeffrey T. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Headspot pygmygoby (Eviota melasma) — Gobiidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Anne Hoggett, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Headspot pygmygoby (Eviota melasma) — Gobiidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Glen Whisson, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Headspot pygmygoby sourced
Scientific name
Eviota melasma
Family
Gobiidae
Other names
Headspot dwarfgoby; Headspot Eviota; Melasma pygmy goby; Black-spotted pygmy-goby verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
3.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Max depth (m)
44.0 verified
Natural range
Oceania: Australia, Solomon Is., Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Cocos Is. (Keel), Fiji, Indonesia and others sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Small fishes, crustaceans and invertebrates inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Eviota

More from the family Gobiidae

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