Short Shore Eel, Alabes brevis Springer & Fraser 1976


A Short Shore Eel, Alabes brevis. Source: Barry Hutchins / Western Australian Museum. License: All rights reserved

Summary:
A small poorly-known greenish shore-eel with a tiger-like pattern of irregular dark bars on the side of the head, and often small dark spots on the head and front half of the body.

Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2021, Alabes brevis in Fishes of Australia, accessed 29 Mar 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1140

Short Shore Eel, Alabes brevis Springer & Fraser 1976

More Info


Distribution

Endemic to Western Australia from Albany to Rottnest Island. Inhabits seagrass beds and weedy areas on shallow coastal reefs in depths to 10 metres.

Features

Pelvic fin absent, fin-fold questionably present; Caudal fin relatively large, 9-10 rays; Vertebrae 60-61, 21 posterior-most vertebrae bearing an epipleural rib.
Head relatively large, length 6.7–8.4 in SL; posterior nasal pore absent; gill opening width about = eye diameter; back not usually hunchback-like, although gravid females may have this appearance.

Similar Species

Differs from all the other species of Alabes by its low vertebral count (60-61), and from all other species except A. hoesei, in having 2 postocular pores. It differs from A. hoesei in usually lacking a posterior nasal canal pore, in having more epipleural ribs, and a larger gill opening.

Etymology

The specific name is from the Latin brevis (= short) in reference to the reduced number of vertebrae characterising this species.

Species Citation

Alabes brevis Springer & Fraser 1976, Smithson. Contrib. Zool. 234: 19. Type locality: Green Island, Rottnest, Western Australia. 

Author

Bray, D.J. 2021

Resources

Atlas of Living Australia

Short Shore Eel, Alabes brevis Springer & Fraser 1976

References


Hoschke, A., Whisson, G. & Moore, G.I. 2019. Complete list of fishes from Rottnest Island. pp. 150-161 in Whisson, G. & Hoschke, A. (eds) The Rottnest Island fish book. 2nd ed. Perth : Aqua Research and Monitoring Services.

Hutchins, J.B. 1991. Southern Australia’s enigmatic clingfishes. Australian Natural History 23(8): 626–633 (colour plate).

Hutchins, B. & Morrison, S. 2004. Five new fish species of the genus Alabes (Gobiesocidae: Cheilobranchinae). Records of the Australian Museum 56: 147-158, https://doi.org/10.3853/j.0067-1975.56.2004.1426

Springer, V.G. & Fraser, T.H. 1976. Synonymy of the fish families Cheilobranchidae (=Alabetidae) and Gobiesocidae, with descriptions of two new species of Alabes. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 234: 1-23 figs 1-14, https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00810282.234

Quick Facts


CAAB Code:37206007

Depth:0-10 m

Habitat:Reef associated, seagrass/weedy areas

Max Size:3.6 cm SL

Native:Endemic

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Species Maps

CAAB distribution map