Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Gobiiformes (Gobies) >
Gobiidae (Gobies) > Sicydiinae
Etymology: Stiphodon: Greek, stiphos, -eos, -oys = mass + Greek, odous = teeth (Ref. 45335); oatea: The species is named oatea to honour Oatea, who has created "the earth of men legend" for his wife Atanua, Henua Enana ("the earth of men"), the Marquesas Islands. The specific epithet is treated as a noun in apposition.
Eponymy: Oatea is a mythical religious figure in central Polynesia. He created the Marquesas Islands, where this goby appears to be endemic. (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal; amphidromous. Tropical
Pacific Ocean: French Polynesia, Marquesas.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 2.8 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 83881); 4.0 cm SL (female)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 10. A combination of characters distinguishes Stiphodon oatea. The species has 14 pectoral rays, 9 segmented-rays in the second dorsal fin and 40-49 premaxillary teeth. There are 12-17 scales in predorsal midline and 33-39 in longitudinal series. The males have more and larger symphyseal teeth than females (3 vs. 2-3). The species has also (13-16) scales in transverse forward series and longer fins in males. The species is squatter than other Stiphodon species and the coloration of males is characteristic: they have yellow green (Ref. 83881).
Occurs in clear and calm streams with sandy or slightly rocky bottom and large pools. Lives on the bottom of the river. Also observed from sea level to 40 meters high in altitude. Possibly spawns in freshwater, with free embryos drifting downstream to the sea where they undergo a planktonic stage, before returning to the rivers to grow and reproduce, hence are amphidromous (Ref. 83881).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Keith, P., E. Feunteun and E. Vigneux, 2009. Stiphodon oatea, a new species of freshwater goby (Gobioidei: Sicydiinae) from Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia. Cybium 33(4):327-334. (Ref. 83881)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01122 (0.00514 - 0.02450), b=3.04 (2.87 - 3.21), in cm total length, based on all LWR estimates for this body shape (Ref.
93245).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).