Pentecost Sicyopus

This species is distinguished by the following characters: pectoral rays 15; upper jaw with numerous teeth (21-26); less lateral scale series (14-29) and zigzag series (11-14); second dorsal fin in females long; caudal peduncle short; head blackish, dorsally with blackish band extending from the tip of snout and upper lip, under the eye to the posterior edge of operculum and pectoral base; blackish band extends from the back of the eye to the dorsal part of pectoral fin base and to caudal fin along midline (Ref. 85524).

Amphidromous. Refers to fishes that regularly migrate between freshwater and the sea (in both directions), but not for the purpose of breeding, as in anadromous and catadromous species. Sub-division of diadromous. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.Characteristic elements in amphidromy are: reproduction in fresh water, passage to sea by newly hatched larvae, a period of feeding and growing at sea usually a few months long, return to fresh water of well-grown juveniles, a further period of feeding and growing in fresh water, followed by reproduction there (Ref. 82692).

Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Analspines: 1; Analsoft rays: 9 - 10

Like other Sicydiinae (see Keith, 2003), Sicyopus pentecost is found in clear, high gradient streams with rocky bottom. It lives on the bottom of the river, on top of rocks but it is also often sen swimming in open water in the current between rocks or in large pools. This new species is supposed, like the oher Sicyopus, to spawn in freshwater; the free embryos drift downstream to te sea where they undergo a planktonic hase, before returning to the rivers to gow and reproduce (Keith et al., 2008; Iida et al., 2010), hence they are called amphidromous (Keith et al. 2006; McDowall 2007; Lord et al., 2010). On islands, the impact of humans on aquatic habitats is highly significant, particularly on estuarine habitats, which are crucial to amphidromous species (Murphy and Cowan, 2007; Lord and Keith, 2008). These have to undertake two migrations between freshwater and the sea. The success of such a life cycle – i.e., production of larvae for downstream migration after hatching and restocking rivers with post-larval and juvenile upstream colonisation after recruitment in freshwaters – depends on maintaining the mountain-ocean corridor open to allow movements between both habitats (Radtke et al., 2001). Man-made developments on these streams can alter larval dispersion and therefore the recruitment success (Keith and Marion, 2002; Valade et al., 2009). It is therefore necessary to understand its biology to the best of our ability, and to develop regional management and restoration strategies between New Caledonia and Vanuatu in order to preserve amphidromous gobies.et al., 2010). On islands, the impact of humans on aquatic habitats is highly significant, particularly on estuarine habitats, which are crucial to amphidromous species (Murphy and Cowan, 2007; Lord and Keith, 2008). These have to undertake two migrations between freshwater and the sea. The success of such a life cycle ' i.e., production of larvae for downstream migration after hatching and restocking rivers with post-larval and juvenile upstream colonisation after recruitment in freshwaters' depends on maintaining the mountain-ocean corridor open to allow movements between both habitats (Radtke et al., 2001). Man-made developments on these streams can alter larval dispersion and therefore the recruitment success (Keith and Marion, 2002; Valade et al., 2009). It is therefore necessary to understand its biology to the best of our ability, and to develop regional management and restoration strategies between New Caledonia and Vanuatu in order to preserve amphidromous gobies.

This species is found in clear, high gradient streams with rocky bottom. It lives on the bottom, on top of rocks, and often seen swimming in open water in the current between rocks or in large pools. Like its congeners, it is presumed to spawn in freshwater, the free embryos drift downstream to the sea where these undergo a planktonic phase, and before returning to the rivers to grow and reproduce (Ref. 85524).