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February 6, 2025 | 06:00 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A team from Conservation Indonesia uncovered a new species of dwarf goby fish (Eviota samota) in Saleh Bay, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), during a week-long whale shark expedition in October 2024. The new species of dwarf goby fish was discovered in the crevices of delicate coral colonies in the lagoon.
"This new species was found in only two locations within Saleh Bay, but it is highly probable that it also exists in other areas of Indonesia," Iqbal Herwata, senior manager of focal species conservation at Conservation Indonesia, said in a statement released Thursday, February 6.
Iqbal said that the fish was located in shallow coral reef areas, between three and five meters deep. The new dwarf goby species was found in the crevices of fine living coral colonies within the lagoon.
The coral reefs in Saleh Bay, he noted, are sheltered from large waves, though changes in land use along the coast and surrounding areas have led to sedimentation.
The “samota” in Eviota samota is the acronym of ‘Saleh, Moyo, and Tambora.’ The fish is characterized by a unique pattern of sensory canal pores on its head, including only paired SOT (supraocular pore) and PITO (posterior interorbital pore).
According to Iqbal, this pattern is found in only two other species within the same genus, Eviota pseudaprica and Eviota amphipora. However, the new species differs from these in body color patterns and the number of rays in its dorsal and anal fins. "Saleh Bay is special because, despite its small size, it boasts high biodiversity," he commented.
The discovery of Eviota samota brings the total number of species described within the Eviota genus to 134, further enriching the diversity of goby fish in the Indo-Pacific.
"In just eight days of surveying, we recorded 570 species, including six potential new species, like Eviota samota, which has now been confirmed," Iqbal added. While water circulation in Saleh Bay is limited, he believes the bay maintains a unique and diverse species composition.
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