Laterite Dwarfgoby

Eviota lateritea

The Laterite dwarfgoby is a small reef-associated fish found in the tropical waters of the Western Pacific, specifically around New Caledonia. It inhabits depths ranging from 9 to 27 meters, typically residing on fringing reefs with silty coral rock and rubble bottoms. This species reaches a maximum length of 1.6 cm, making it one of the smaller members of the goby family. Identifiable by its elongated, oval-shaped body, the Laterite dwarfgoby lacks distinctive cephalic pores, which are common in other goby species. It also does not have a dark spot at the preural centrum or an occipital spot, and its first dorsal fin is not dark. Its dorsal and anal fins have a specific ray formula, with 9 dorsal soft rays and 8 anal soft rays. The Laterite dwarfgoby is considered to be of Least Concern according to the IUCN Red List. Divers encountering this species may find them harmless and unobtrusive, as they are typically bottom-dwelling and blend well with their rubble-strewn habitats.