Sicyopus chloe
| Sicyopus chloe | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Division: | Teleostei |
| Order: | Gobiiformes |
| Family: | Oxudercidae |
| Genus: | Sicyopus |
| Species: | S. chloe |
| Binomial name | |
| Sicyopus chloe Watson, Keith & Marquet, 2001 | |
Sicyopus chloe is a species of small benthopelagic freshwater goby in the subfamily Sicydiinae. It is endemic to the North Province of New Caledonia, where it inhabits the clear, fast-flowing streams along the eastern slopes of Mont Panié. The species was formally described by Watson, Keith & Marquet in 2001.[1]
Description
Adult individuals measure between 21.2 and 42.5 mm in standard length. Males typically reach up to 40.4 mm, while the largest recorded female measured 42.5 mm,[1] features include:
- Slightly filamentous dorsal fin spines (rays 3–6) in males
- First dorsal fin separate from the second dorsal fin (with seven segmented rays)
- Pectoral fins with 13–15 rays; caudal fin with 13 branched rays
- Pelvic disc formed from one spine and five branched rays
- 17 scales in the lateral series and 14–16 in the zigzag series
Taxonomy
Sicyopus chloe is sometimes placed in the subgenus Smilosicyopus, a group of sicydiine gobies characterized by well-developed canine teeth in both jaws, particularly in males. Members of this subgenus occur widely across the Indo-Pacific region, from eastern Indonesia to the Marquesas Islands and from southern Japan to New Caledonia.[2]
Distribution
S. chloe is known only from the North Province of New Caledonia. It occupies steep, clear, high-gradient freshwater streams with rocky substrates flowing down the eastern slopes of Mont Panié.[3]
Ecology
Like many sicydiine gobies, Sicyopus chloe inhabits fast-moving, oxygen-rich waters where it shelters among rocks and crevices. It is a carnivorous species and feeds primarily on aquatic insects and crustaceans typical of mountain stream environments.[4]
Comparisons
Sicyopus chloe differs from other species in the (sub)genus Smilosicyopus through its combination of:
- well-developed canine teeth in both jaws,
- prominent dark V-shaped head marking,
- conspicuous nape spotting,
- and sexual dichromatism.
Other members of Smilosicyopus generally exhibit tan coloration with diffuse dusky markings rather than the more contrasting patterns observed in S. chloe.[2]
References
- 1 2 Watson, R.E.; Keith, P.; Marquet, G. (2001). "Sicyopus (Smilosicyopus) chloe, a new species of freshwater goby from New Caledonia (Sicydiinae)". Cybium. 25: 41–52.
- 1 2 Watson, R.E. (1999). "Two new subgenera of Sicyopus, with a redescription of Sicyopus zosterophorum". Aqua: Journal of Ichthyology and Aquatic Biology. 3: 93–104.
- ↑ Marquet, G.; Mary, N. (1999). "Comments on some New Caledonian freshwater fishes of economic and biogeographical interest". In: Fifth Indo-Pacific Fish Conference Proceedings. Paris: IRD & SFI. pp. 9–39.
- ↑ Parenti, L.R.; Maciolek, J.A. (1993). "New sicydiine gobies from Ponape and Palau, Micronesia, with comments on systematics of the subfamily Sicydiinae". Bulletin of Marine Science. 53: 945–972.