|
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 | |||