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 08 Dec 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/1140
Short Shore Eel, Alabes brevis Springer & Fraser 1976
More Info
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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Etymology |
The specific name is from the Latin brevis (= short) in reference to the reduced number of vertebrae characterising this species. |
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Species Citation |
Alabes brevis Springer & Fraser 1976, Smithson. Contrib. Zool. 234: 19. Type locality: Green Island, Rottnest, Western Australia. |
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Author |
Bray, D.J. 2021 |
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Resources |
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
