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.
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, 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.
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.
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.
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.
References
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.
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.
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.
Further reading [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/287488735_Sicyopus_Smilosicyopus_chloe_a_new_species_of_freshwater_goby_from_New_Caledonia_Sicydiinae SICYOPUS (SMILOSICYOPUS) CHLOE, A NEW SPECIES OF FRESHWATER GOBY FROM NEW CALEDONIA (SICYDIINAE)] Sicyopus (Smilosicyopus) chloe, a new species of freshwater goby from New Caledonia (Sicydiinae)