Sicyopterus aiensis Keith, Watson & Marquet, 2004
Creek Ai's goby

Family:  Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Sicydiinae
Max. size:  15 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater
Distribution:  Oceania: Vanuatu (Ref. 53576 and Ref. 87781).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 10. There are two dorsal fins. The first one has 6 spiny rays and the second one has one spiny ray and 11 soft ones. The anal fin has one spiny ray and 10 soft ones and is located directly opposite to the second dorsal fin. The caudal fin has 13 to 14 branched rays and the posterior margin is rounded. The pelvic disk has one spine and 5 branched rays on each side, the fifth rays are joined together on their entire length. There is a strong frenum between the spines and the disc adheres to the belly between all 5 rays. The pectoral fin usually has 21 to 22 rays and its posterior margin is rounded. There are 62 to 69 scales in lateral series; the scales are ctenoid on the flanks and on the caudal peduncle; 20 (18-23) scales in transverse backward series; 24 (22-29) scales in transverse forward series; 24-33 predorsal scales and 17-19 (16-21) scales in zigzag series. The upper lip has midlateral inverted V-shaped clefts on each side (Ref. 87781).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Near Threatened (NT); Date assessed: 08 September 2011 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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