Scott's Weedfish, Heteroclinus sp 7
Scott's Weedfish, Heteroclinus sp. 7, at Flinders, Western Port, Victoria, December 2017. Source: Sascha Schultz / iNaturalist.org. License: CC By Attribution-NonCommercial
Scott's Weedfish has large orbital tentacles with 3-7 mostly elongate lobes that are often unequal in size. The nasal tentacles are also large, with 5-8 elongate, equal‑sized lobes.
Scott's Weedfish, Heteroclinus sp 7
More Info
Distribution |
Endemic to southeastern Australia from Sydney, New South Wales, to Anglesea, Victoria and northern Tasmania. Inhabits weedy, rocky and macroalgae in shallow coastal waters and rock pools. |
Features |
Dorsal fin III + XXIX-XXXIII, 1-3; anal fin II, 20-22; Pectoral fin 12-14; Caudal fin (segmented rays) 11‑12; Pelvic fin I,3; Lateral line 17‑25 (arched portion) + 24‑31 (straight portion); Gill rakers 1-2 + 2-6 = 4-7. Body of moderate depth (depth at anal fin origin 17‑23% SL), strongly compressed; caudal peduncle very slender. Head of moderate size (23‑28% SL); eyes of moderate size (5-9% SL); mouth of moderate size (upper jaw length 8-11% SL), reaching to below anterior margin of pupils or posterior edge of eyes; 27-37 circumorbital head pores arranged biserially; each orbital tentacle large, with three to seven mostly elongate but often unequal lobes (3‑6% SL); nasal tentacles large, with five to eight elongate, equal‑sized lobes; gill rakers simple. Body scales cycloid; lateral line scales extending onto caudal peduncle, anterior scales overlapping, each with dorsal, ventral, and posterior median pores, posterior scales not overlapping, each with median pore at either end. Two dorsal fins, first dorsal fin slightly elevated (second spine 7‑10% SL), originating above or just before posterior preopercular margin; last spine connected by membrane to basal half of spine of second dorsal fin; flaps extending posteriorly from dorsal spines free; anal fin membrane deeply incised; last anal ray narrowly connected to caudal peduncle; caudal fin rounded (14‑18% SL). Pectoral fins large, rounded. Pelvic fins jugular, stout, not reaching anus, inner ray about three‑fourths length of second ray. |
Colour |
Head and body brown with six darker broken bars on body; belly and throat pale; broad brown bar extending obliquely from under each eye to behind jaws; upper half of each pectoral fin base blackish, ventral half paler; first dorsal dark, blackish spot between dorsal spines two and three; second dorsal with six brownish patches separated by transparent interspaces; pectoral, anal, and caudal fins with series of brown spots forming bands; lower pectoral fin rays and ventral fin rays reddish. |
Author |
Bray, D.J. 2021 |
Scott's Weedfish, Heteroclinus sp 7
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.
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.