Data from: Multi-locus sequence data reveal a new species of coral reef goby (Teleostei: Gobiidae: Eviota), and evidence of Pliocene vicariance across the Coral Triangle

Here, multi-locus sequence data are coupled with observations of live
colouration to recognize a new species, Eviota punyit from the Coral
Triangle, Indian Ocean and Red Sea. Relaxed molecular clock divergence
time estimation indicates a Pliocene origin for the new species, and the
current distribution of the new species and its sister species Eviota
sebreei supports a scenario of vicariance across the Indo-Pacific Barrier,
followed by subsequent range expansion and overlap in the Coral Triangle.
These results are consistent with the ‘centre of overlap’ hypothesis,
which states that the increased diversity in the Coral Triangle is due in
part to the overlapping ranges of Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean faunas.
These findings are discussed in the context of other geminate pairs of
coral reef fishes separated by the Indo-Pacific Barrier.