Mele'S Stiphodon

This specie is distinguished from its congeners in having the following characters: D2 with 9 segmented rays; pectoral rays usually 13; premaxillary teeth, fine tricuspid, 36-41; small symphyseal teeth in female 2 (vs. 2-4 stout teeth in males); no predorsal scales; low number of scales in transverse back (3-7) and lateral series (14-21). Males usually orange in color, females greyish to brownish (Ref. 82682).

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: 10

Occurs in clear, high gradient streams with rocky bottom and lives mainly on the riverbed, on top of rocks, but also seen swimming in open water in the current between rocks or in large pools; observed from 10 to 100 m high in altitude. It spawns in freshwater, the free embryos drift downstream to the sea where they undergo a planktonic phase, before returning to the rivers to grow and reproduce (Ref. 82682).