Coleman's Weedfish, Heteroclinus colemani Hoese, Hay & DiBattista 2024

Other Names: Colemans Weedfish

Summary:

A brownish to reddish or reddish-orange weedfish with dark brown spots on the body and tail, and 6-7 darker saddles along the upper side extending onto the dorsal fin. The species has with 6–8 clear windows between the dorsal-fin spines, with pigment above and/or below clear parts of windows. Coleman's Weedfish also has a large white to silvery-white spot behind the pectoral fin, often followed by a series of smaller spots, and three brown and silvery-white bars radiating ventrally from the eye. The dorsal and anal fins are red to brown, and interrupted by six clear areas. The orbital tentacle is elongate with a rounded lobe, and the nasal tentacle is simple and rounded.

Cite this page as:

Bray, D.J. 2024, Heteroclinus colemani in Fishes of Australia, accessed 26 Apr 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/5244

Coleman's Weedfish, Heteroclinus colemani Hoese, Hay & DiBattista 2024

More Info

Distribution	Sydney, New South Wales, to Kangaroo Island, South Australia, including Victoria and scattered localities in Tasmania. Often inhabits red macroalgae on exposed coastal reefs and offshore islands at depths to about 8 m.
Features	Dorsal fin III + XXIV-XXV, 3; Anal fin II,18-19; Caudal fin (segmented rays) 10: Pectoral fin 13; Pelvic fin I,3; Lateral line scales (arched) 19-24 + (straight) 24-26; Gill rakers 3 + 7-8 = 10-11; Circumorbital head pores 13-17, uniserial. Body strongly compressed, depth 27-33% SL; caudal peduncle very slender; mouth reaching to between anterior edge of pupil and middle of eye; upper jaw length 8-10% SL. Orbital tentacle elongate with a rounded lobe, expanded slightly distally; nasal tentacle simple, round, flap length about equal to tubular base length. Two dorsal fins unconnnected by membrane, first elevated in both sexes, length of 2nd spine 11-16% SL, fin origin above preopercular margin; last two rays in both dorsal and anal fins widely separated from preceding ray; last anal-fin ray connected by membrane along half its length to caudal peduncle; pelvic-fin tip reaching anus, inner ray about half to slightly more than half length of 2nd ray.
Colour	Brown to reddish; dark brown spots on trunk and tail; 6-7 darker saddles on dorsolateral surface of trunk and tail, extending onto dorsal fin; large white to silver spot behindpectoral fin sometimes followed by series of smaller spots posteriorly and dorsally; 3 silver to white bars with brown margins radiating form eye, first across snout and middle of upper jaw, second extending ventrally to end of mouth; third extending posteriorly from centre of rear edge of eye; orbital tentacle bright red to brown; dorsal and anal fins red to brown, interrupted by 6 clear areas; pectoral, pelvic and caudal fins with red or brown spots in transverse bands.
Biology	Head and body brown to reddish or reddish orange with dark brown spots along trunk and tail; 6–7 darker saddles along dorsolateral surface of trunk and tail extending onto dorsal fin; large white to silver spot behind pectoral fin sometimes followed by a series of smaller spots posteriorly and dorsally; 3 silver to white bars with brown margins radiating from eye, the first across snout and middle of upper jaw, the second extending ventrally to end of mouth, the third extending posteriorly from mid posterior edge of eye; orbital tentacle bright red to brown; pectoral, ventral, and caudal fins with a series of red or brown spots forming transverse bands
Similar Species	Coleman's Weedfish is distinctive in its reddish coloration, small size and combination of dorsal spine, pectoral ray and gill raker counts, and body depth, orbital tentacle size and first dorsal fin height. This species has only been recorded from coastal and offshore islands.
Etymology	The species is "Named for Neville Coleman, who collected material of this species and other clinid species studied".
Species Citation	Heteroclinus colemani Hoese, Hay & DiBattista 2024, Zootaxa 5432(3): 305, Pl. 1A, 1B, Figures 2, 4, 5. Type locality: Knob Point, Kangaroo Island, South Australia, 35°36’31”S, 137°13’54”E, 3–8 m.
Author	Bray, D.J. 2024
Resources	Atlas of Living Australia Australian Faunal Directory Catalog of Fishes

Coleman's Weedfish, Heteroclinus colemani Hoese, Hay & DiBattista 2024

References

Hoese, D.F., Gomon, M.F. & Rennis, D.S. 2008. Family Clinidae. pp. 696-722 in Gomon, M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast.Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp. (as Heteroclinus sp. 4)

Hoese, D.F., Hay, A. & DiBattista, J.D. 2024. A review of the Heteroclinus heptaeolus complex (Pisces: Blennioidei: Clinidae), with three new species and discussion of use of proportions in taxonomic studies. Zootaxa 5432(3): 301–348, https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5432.3.1

Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 437 pp. (as Heteroclinus sp 1)

Kuiter, R.H. & Kuiter, S.L. 2018. Fish watchers guide to coastal sea-fishes of south-eastern Australia. Seaford, Victoria : Aquatic Photographics, 371 pp. (as Heteroclinus sp 1)

Lucas, A.H.S. 1891. On the occurrence of certain fish in Victorian seas, with descriptions of some new species. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 3(2): 8–14. (in part as Cristiceps wilsoni, figured specimen only, Pl. 3, Fig. 1, Port Phillip, Victoria) See ref at BHL

Rennis, D., Hoese, D.F. & Gomon, M.F. 1994. Family Clinidae. pp. 741-775, figs 650-684B in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. Adelaide : State Printer 992 pp. 810 figs. (as Heteroclinus sp. 4)