| Family: |
Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Sicydiinae |
| Max. size: |
5.3 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
benthopelagic; freshwater, amphidromous |
| Distribution: |
Africa: Bandama River in Ivory Coast (Ref. 4343, 57403, 79590), the Lokundje (Ref. 7390, 79590) and Lobe (Ref. 79590) River basins in Cameroon, Douigni River in Gabon (Ref. 79590) and Kouilou River in Republic of Congo (Ref. 7390, 79590). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-10; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 10. Diagnosis: upper lip with median notch, but otherwise usually smooth, and lacking a median tubercle just posterior to the median notch; posterior tip of upper jaw extends to level of anterior 1/3 or 1/2 of eye; each side of upper jaw with single row of 16-26 slender, tricuspid teeth; anterior teeth, attached to opposite halves of upper jaw, narrowly separated from each other; in male fish posterolateral part of upper jaw with 1-6 caniniform teeth; each half of lower jaw with 2-7 caniniform teeth and 22-26 labial teeth; in adults, anterior labial teeth, attached to opposite lower jaws, narrowly separated by a small projection of soft tissue at dentary symphysis; 50-57 scales in longitudinal series (including 2 scales on caudal fin base), 11-13 in rearward transverse series (Ref. 57403, 79590). Scales on dorsal and ventral parts of body not extending anteriorly beyond origin of 2nd dorsal and anal fins respectively, and scales adjacent to these fins cycloid; anterior scales on flanks (at level of pectoral fin) cycloid and slightly subdermal; scales on posterior part of flanks strongly ctenoid with the exception of last 2 rows, and scales on dorsal and ventral surfaces of caudal peduncle, which are cycloid (Ref. 57403). 1st dorsal fin: VI; 2nd dorsal fin: I,10 (rarely I,9); anal fin: I,10; pectoral fins: 16-18 (perhaps 15 in rare cases); caudal fin usually squarish with 17 segmented rays, 13 of which are branched; preopercular canal incorporating 3 pores (Ref. 57403, 79590). Urogenital papilla small and rounded (Ref. 57403).
Coloration: Preserved specimens: head and flanks mottled dark brown, particularly on snout and upper lip which is entirely brown, except at angles of mouth; dark spot below center of eye, another anterior to operculum; flanks with 5-6 transverse bands of brown spots between posterior of pectoral fin base and caudal peduncle; these bands mostly dorsal to lateral midline, but darkest at midline and extend just ventral to this; ventral area of body pale; 1st dorsal fin with small black spots on rays, 2nd dorsal with brownish black speckling at base, middle, and tip of each ray; anal fin speckled brownish black with a diffuse longitudinal band of spots near distal margin; pectoral fins dark, with a spot at base and sometimes another one at tips; caudal fin with dark patch at base and fin speckled with brown, except on dorsal and ventral posterior tips of fin; sometimes with diffuse, horse-shoe-shaped band of denser pigmentation, curving from dorsal anterior to ventral anterior margin of fin (Ref. 57403, 79590). |
| Biology: |
Amphidromous freshwater species (Ref. 92840). Found around rocks in fast-flowing freshwaters; often found in the same habitat as Sicydium crenilabrum and, like Sicydium crenilabrum, it seems evasive and difficult to catch, and may be more widely distributed than is presently documented; maximum standard length reported 44.9 mm (Ref. 79590). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 12 May 2019 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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