Trimma zurae Winterbotton, Erdmann & Dita Cahyani, 2014
Marg’s pygmygoby
Trimma zurae
photo by Erdmann, M.V.

Family:  Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobiinae
Max. size:  2.26 cm SL (female)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 65 - 70 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Indonesia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 8-8. This species is distinguished by the following characters: predorsal midline with 8-9 scales; upper border of the opercle usually with a single row of cycloid scales; cheek scaleless; 11 anterior transverse scales and 9 posterior transverse scales; no elongated dorsal spines, the second and third longest reaching posteriorly only to between dorsal interspace and the base of the second dorsal fin spine; D2 I,9; A I,8; middle rays of the pectoral fin branched; fifth pelvic fin ray branches once dichotomously and is 65-76% the length of the fourth ray, and the basal membrane connecting the inner margins of the fifth pelvic fins rays is less than 20% the length of the fifth ray; an eye-diameter sized black ocellated round spot covering the first to fifth spines of the first dorsal fin is distinctive, also the pupil diameter sized orange spots on the nape, opercle and posterodorsal part of the cheek (Ref. 96671).
Biology:  This 'twilight zone' species are restricted to deeper reefs in the 65-70 m depth range. The species has been collected only from a single locality (despite extensive collections made) and this may be due to the very unusual microhabitat which consisted of a very gradual reef slope to 70 m depth, exposed to strong upwelling from the nearby very deep (>1000 m) waters surrounding it. Collected specimens were sheltering beneath the large barrel sponges that dominated the reefscape (Ref. 96671).
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 07 September 2021 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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