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Signalfin dwarfgoby (Eviota sigillata) — Gobiidae

Signalfin dwarfgoby

Eviota sigillata
Family: Gobiidae

The Signalfin dwarfgoby (Eviota sigillata) is a saltwater fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 3 cm.

Length
3 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
3.0–20.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Oceania: Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Madagascar, Mauritius, Micronesia and others

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Description

The signalfin dwarfgoby is a very small dwarfgoby (Gobiidae) from shallow reef water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 2 cm and has a slender, semi-translucent body with reddish bars and large eyes. It is one of the shortest-lived vertebrates in the world: after a larval phase at sea it often lives only a few weeks as an adult. As a bottom-dweller near coral it snaps at small zooplankton. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Signalfin dwarfgoby?

The Signalfin dwarfgoby has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly red-orange.

Where does the Signalfin dwarfgoby live?

The Signalfin dwarfgoby lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Oceania: Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Madagascar, Mauritius, Micronesia and others

How big does the Signalfin dwarfgoby get?

The Signalfin dwarfgoby grows to a maximum of about 3 cm.

Is the Signalfin dwarfgoby dangerous to humans?

No, the Signalfin dwarfgoby 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

Signalfin dwarfgoby (Eviota sigillata) — Gobiidae — 2
Richard Winterbottom (CC BY 4.0) via GBIF — SAIAB
Signalfin dwarfgoby (Eviota sigillata) — Gobiidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Mark Rosenstein, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Signalfin dwarfgoby (Eviota sigillata) — Gobiidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Mark Rosenstein, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Signalfin dwarfgoby (Eviota sigillata) — Gobiidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Mark Rosenstein, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Signalfin dwarfgoby sourced
Scientific name
Eviota sigillata
Family
Gobiidae
Other names
Pale-cheek pygmy-goby; Seven-figure pygmy goby; Sign Eviota; Adorned dwarfgoby verified

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
3.0 verified
Max depth (m)
20.0 verified
Natural range
Oceania: Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Madagascar, Mauritius, Micronesia 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
levensduur_max_jaar
0.159999996423721 verified
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

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Fin

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