| Blennophis anguillaris | |
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Scientific classification
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Blenniiformes |
| Family: | Clinidae |
| Genus: | Blennophis |
| Species: | B. anguillaris
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| Binomial name | |
| Blennophis anguillaris (
Valenciennes, 1836)
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| Synonyms | |
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Blennophis anguillaris, the snaky klipfish, is a species of clinid found in the subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean around South Africa. It can be found in the subtidal zone and also is a denizen of tidepools. This species can reach a maximum length of 30 centimetres (12 in) TL. [2]
Description
- Fins: Dorsal fin spines 44 to 50, rays 2 to 4; Anal fin spines 2, rays 33 to 37; Pectoral fin rays 13 to 14; Ventral fin spines 1, rays 3.
- Gill rakers (2 to 3)+(5 to 7).
- Vertebrae 18+(38 to 40).
- Lateral line with about 20 to 22 vertical pairs of pores in front.
- Body depth 6 to 7.75 in Standard length.
- Head length 4.75 to 5.75 in Standard length.
- Eye 3.25 to 5 diameters in head length.
- Caudal peduncle 15.5 to 25% head length, depth 28.5 to 35.5% head length. [3]
Shape:
Head slightly depressed and rounded, blunt snout of moderate length with a prominent tentacle above each eye consisting of a short flat stalk, sometimes bifurcated, palmated and fringed; interorbital space convex; mouth slightly oblique; upper and lower jaws of similar length. Lips thick. Body elongate robust and straight. Caudal peduncle very short. [3] [4] The dorsal fin is low and even, without a crest, and there are no clusters of cirri on the dorsal spine tips. Cirri on the front nostrils are elongated with serrated edges, and unbranched. [5]
Colour:
Colour is generally uniform, in shades of yellow, yellowish green, brown, dull crimson, red or pink, mottled with darker blotches, spots, and occasionally bars; often with a row of bright oblong spots below the dorsal fin. [3] [4] Fins are red- or white-tipped. Sometimes there is a light edged, dark ocellus on the shoulder, and often two dark radiating bars from the eye across the cheek. The snout is white in large, dark-red specimens. [5] They may be brown or red with a large black blotch between the 1st 3 dorsal spines and numerous black dots round eye and on body. [6] The colour of the eyes matches the colour of the body, with feint radiating bars. The pupil is dark, with a narrow reddish-orange iris. [7]
The young are eel-like, usually almost black, with the margins of dorsal, anal and caudal fins red, but red ones have a distinct white snout. An ocellus is generally present in juveniles. [8] [5] Very small juveniles usually plain purple-black with white caudal fin. [6]
Size:
Attains 30 cm. [6]
Distribution
From Lüderitzbucht to East London. [6] From the Cape Peninsula they have been recorded from tidal pools in Sea Point, the wreck of the SS Clan Stuart, Froggy Pond and A-Frame in Simon's Town, to about 6m depth. [7]
Habitat
The species, which is the most eel-like of the genus, is fairly plentiful, and is usually found in fairly secluded holes or rock-pools near the low tide mark, [3] under stones at low water mark, [8] and among kelp stipes. [9] Subtidally they are more common in the kelp of the west coast especially north of Lamberts Bay. [6] Juvenile specimens have been found in rock pools, often in very shallow water, but at the low water mark. Large specimens are seen mostly at night at a depth of about 6 to 8m. [7] Behaviour is skittish and the fish will disappear quickly. As they are often seen in the same habitat, large specimens are easy to confuse with Barbelled klipfish ( Cirrhibarbis capensis) as their colouration is often similar and the fish tends to hide most of its body, particularly the head. Generally a view of the head will resolve identification. [7]
Etymology
Anguillaris: from anguilla; eel, referring to the overall body shape. [7]
References
- ^ Holleman, W.; Clements, K.D.; Williams, J.T. (2014). "Blennophis anguillaris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T179069A1566173. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T179069A1566173.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2013). "Blennophis anguillaris" in FishBase. April 2013 version.
- ^ a b c d Gilchrist, J.D.F., Thompson, W.W., 1908. The Blenniidae of South Africa. Annals of the South African Museum 6(2): 7 – 143
- ^ a b Barnard, K.H., 1927 (Reprinted 1972.) A Monograph of the Marine Fishes of South Africa, Part II. Annals of the South African Museum 21: 850 – 867.
- ^ a b c Penrith. M.L., 1969. The Systematics of the Fishes of the Family Clinidae in South Africa. Annals of the South African Museum 55(1): 1 – 121
- ^ a b c d e Smith, M.M. & Heemstra, P.C., editors. 1986. Smith's Sea Fishes. Southern Book Publishers. 1047pp.
- ^ a b c d e Zsilavecz, Guido, 2005. Coastal fishes of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay: A divers' identification guide. SURG, Cape Town. ISBN 0-620-34230-7
- ^ a b Smith, J.L.B., 1949. The Sea Fishes of Southern Africa. Central News Agency, LTD. 550pp.
- ^ Day, J.H., 1974. A guide to marine life on South African shores. A. A. Balkema: 228 – 230.