| Remarks |
Stiphodon oatea is found in clear and calm streams with sandy or slightly rocky bottom and large pools. It lives on the bottom of the river. This species was observed from sea level to 40 meters high in altitude. This species is thought to spawn in freshwater, like Sicyopterus (Keith et al., 2004), Sicydium (Bell et al., 1995) Cotylopus (Keith et al., 2005), Lentipes (Watson et al., 2002), Awaous (Keith et al., 2000), Akihito (Watson et al., 2007; Keith et al., 2007a) or the other Stiphodon (Watson et al. 2005), with free embryos drifting downstream to the sea where they undergo a planktonic phase, before returning to the rivers to grow and reproduce (Keith, 2003; Keith et al., 2008). Hence they are qualified as amphidromous (sensu McDowall, 1997). These gobies contribute most to the diversity of fish communities in the Indo-Pacific insular systems, have the highest levels of endemism (Keith et al., 2006; Lord and Keith, 2007) and must be protected (Keith and Marion, 2002). |