Arrow Dartgoby, Ptereleotris evides (Jordan & Hubbs 1925)

Other Names: Arrow Dart-goby, Arrow Goby, Blackfin Dartfish, Sailfin Hovergoby, Scissortail Dartfish, Spottail Gudgeon, Twotone Dartfish

Summary:

A pale bluish-grey dartgoby becoming almost black posteriorly, with a dark snout, iridescent blue markings on the gill cover, and blackish to dark reddish caudal-fin lobes. Juveniles have a black spot on the lower part of the tail base. A low fleshy papilla on the chin narrows posteriorly into a long low fold.

Cite this page as:

Bray, D.J. 2025, Ptereleotris evides in Fishes of Australia, accessed 01 Jul 2025, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/192

Arrow Dartgoby, Ptereleotris evides (Jordan & Hubbs 1925)

More Info

Distribution	Rottnest Island to the Dampier Archipelago, and offshore reefs of north Western Australia, Ashmore Reef, Timor Sea, to Batemans Bay, New South Wales; also reefs in the Coral Sea, Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs, Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island in the Tasman Sea, and Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island in the eastern Indian Ocean. Elsewhere the species is widespread in the Indo-west-central Pacific central Pacific. Inhabits outer reef slopes, lagoons and bays. Adult pairs, or small groups of juveniles hover 1-2 m above the bottom to feed on zooplankton.
Features	Dorsal fin VI + I, 23-26; Anal fin I, 23-26; Pectoral fin 21-24; lateral-line scales ~135-148; Vertebrae 26. Chin with a low fleshy protuberance, narrowing posteriorly to a low longitudinal fold. First dorsal fin pointed, second dorsal fin and anal fin higher anteriorly than posteriorly; pelvic fins short; caudal fin deeply emarginate. Median chin barbel absent, but low fold present. Gill opening to rear edge of preopercle.
Colour	Body pale bluish grey anteriorly, shading to black or purplish black posteriorly; iridescent blue markings on operculum; distal edge of 1st dorsal fin orange to yellow; upper and lower lobes of caudal fin reddish to blackish, centre of fin translucent to whitish. Juveniles paler, with large oval black spot on lower caudal-fin base.
Feeding
Biology	Adults form monogamous pairs, while juveniles are often seen in small groups.
Etymology	The specific name is from the Greek evides (= comely, beautiful).
Species Citation	Encaeura evides Jordan & Hubbs 1925, Memoirs of the Carnegie Museum 10(2): 303, pl. 11, fig. 2. Type locality: Wakanoura, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, Inland Sea.
Author	Bray, D.J. 2025
Resources	Atlas of Living Australia Australian Faunal Directory Catalog of Fishes

Arrow Dartgoby, Ptereleotris evides (Jordan & Hubbs 1925)

References

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Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Perth : Western Australian Museum 292 pp. 106 pls.

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