taxonID	type	description	language	source
03EF8D3EFFB51C3656E5FDE489EDF938.taxon	description	(叉ü ẽñṻ) (Figs. 1 – 2)	en	Chen, I-Shiung, Shen, Kang-Ning, Chang, Chih-Wei (2025): A new dwarf goby of genus Eviota (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from northern Taiwan. Zootaxa 5738 (1): 38-42, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5738.1.8, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5738.1.8
03EF8D3EFFB51C3656E5FDE489EDF938.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined Holotype — NTOUP- 2021 - 09 - 302, 18.2 mm SL, Coll. I-S. Chen et al., April 28, 2022, Longdong Bay, 20 – 25 m depth, New Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC.	en	Chen, I-Shiung, Shen, Kang-Ning, Chang, Chih-Wei (2025): A new dwarf goby of genus Eviota (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from northern Taiwan. Zootaxa 5738 (1): 38-42, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5738.1.8, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5738.1.8
03EF8D3EFFB51C3656E5FDE489EDF938.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis The species can be well distinguished from other congeners by the following combination of features: (1) second dorsal fin I / 8, anal fin I / 8, pectoral fin 16; (2) longitudinal scale rows 24 – 25; (3) typical head canal pattern in lacking posterior oculoscapular canal and preopercular canal; (4) mouth large, extending to middle vertical of eye; and (5) specific coloration: body and head creamy white. Each scale pocket with golden yellow to yellowish brown margin. Ventral profile after anus with 5 major inner blackish brown blotches. Snout pointed with a bright orange stripe crossing to both lips. Two somewhat vertical orange lines below orbit. Totally trunk after first dorsal fin origin with 9 dorsal inner marks. First dorsal fin translucent with a basal forked brown mark. Basal region of first dorsal fin with three inner brown marks. Second dorsal fin translucent with 4 – 5 longitudinal rows of brown spots. Basal region of second dorsal fin also with three inner brown marks. Pectoral fin base with an upper orange round spot. Caudal fin base with a vertical brown bar.	en	Chen, I-Shiung, Shen, Kang-Ning, Chang, Chih-Wei (2025): A new dwarf goby of genus Eviota (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from northern Taiwan. Zootaxa 5738 (1): 38-42, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5738.1.8, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5738.1.8
03EF8D3EFFB51C3656E5FDE489EDF938.taxon	description	Description Body very slender and rather compressed. Eye large and snout length about equal to orbit. Gill-opening restricted, extending just ventrally to anterior edge of opercle. Head as the triangular cross section. Interorbital region very narrow. Mouth large, maxillary extending to middle vertical of eye. Body morphometric proportions are listed in Table 1. Vertebral count 26. Fins. — D 1 VI, D 2 I / 8; P 16; A I / 8; VI / 5 + I / 5. First dorsal fin with anterior two rays slightly longer. First dorsal fin not extending beyond orgin of second dorsal fin. Rear of second dorsal fin tip far away from the vertical of caudal fin base. No frenum, no connecting membrane between 2 pelvic fins. Scales. — LR 24 – 25, TR 6, PreD 0. Body with rather large ctenoid scales. Predorsal region entirely naked. Head, opercle, and nape all naked. Head lateral-line system. (Fig. 1) Canals. — Anterior oculoscapular canal present, with anterior pore σ above posterior nostril. Single pore λ. Single pore κ. Rear of interorbital pore ω present. Lateral side with pore α, then extending to terminal pore ρ. Preopercular canal absent. Posterior oculoscapular canal absent. Sensory papillae. — Row a rather short. Row b on rear of cheek. Row os, oi merely with two papillae for each. Row ot and oi well separate. Coloration while fresh Body and head creamy white background. Each scale pocket with golden yellow to yellowish brown margin. Ventral profile after anus with 5 major inner blackish brown blotches. Snout pointed with a bright orange stripe crossing to both lips. Two major somewhat vertical orange lines below orbit. Cheek and opercle with many orange or brownish black small dots. Anterior nostril creamy white. Eye with 5 main radiating brown lines. Nape with irregularly brown bars. Totally trunk after first dorsal fin origin with 9 dorsal inner marks. First dorsal fin translucent with a basal forked brown mark and inside black dots. Basal region of first dorsal fin with three inner brown marks. Second dorsal fin translucent with 4 – 5 longitudinal rows of brown spots. Basal region of first dorsal fin with three inner brown marks. Pectoral fin base with an upper orange round spot. Basal region with 3 patches of orange marks. Anal fin translucent and unmarked. Caudal fin base with a vertical brown bar. Caudal fin membrane with 7 vertical rows of brown spots. Pelvic fin translucent and whitish.	en	Chen, I-Shiung, Shen, Kang-Ning, Chang, Chih-Wei (2025): A new dwarf goby of genus Eviota (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from northern Taiwan. Zootaxa 5738 (1): 38-42, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5738.1.8, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5738.1.8
03EF8D3EFFB51C3656E5FDE489EDF938.taxon	etymology	Etymology The species name bifurca is preferred to forked in Latin — “ bifurcus ” meaning the unique feature of “ forked dark mark ” on first dorsal fin.	en	Chen, I-Shiung, Shen, Kang-Ning, Chang, Chih-Wei (2025): A new dwarf goby of genus Eviota (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from northern Taiwan. Zootaxa 5738 (1): 38-42, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5738.1.8, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5738.1.8
03EF8D3EFFB51C3656E5FDE489EDF938.taxon	distribution	Distribution So far, the current new species only found from the coral-reef region of northern Taiwan — Longdong Bay, New Taipei City, Taiwan. It is possible to find the species in nearby countries of West Pacific.	en	Chen, I-Shiung, Shen, Kang-Ning, Chang, Chih-Wei (2025): A new dwarf goby of genus Eviota (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from northern Taiwan. Zootaxa 5738 (1): 38-42, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5738.1.8, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5738.1.8
03EF8D3EFFB51C3656E5FDE489EDF938.taxon	discussion	Remarks The current species rather differs to congeneric members due to lacking translucent body and quite unique coloration pattern. The forked brown mark on first dorsal fin is very specific feature for current new species. The triangular section of head is rather unique and unusual, which most members with typical compressed head shape. The species is very rare, more SCUBA diving exploration is very needed to realize the distribution pattern and also its own habitat preference.	en	Chen, I-Shiung, Shen, Kang-Ning, Chang, Chih-Wei (2025): A new dwarf goby of genus Eviota (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from northern Taiwan. Zootaxa 5738 (1): 38-42, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5738.1.8, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5738.1.8
