Brownspotted Spiny Clingfish, Genus A sp 1 (in Gomon et al. 2008)


Other Names: Brown-spotted Spiny Clingfish

A Brownspotted Spiny Clingfish, Genus A sp. 1, in Chowder Bay, Sydney Harbour, Clifton Gardens, September 2020. Source: kim dinh / iNaturalist.org. License: CC by Attribution-NonCommercial

Summary:
An undescribed pale green clingfish with many small close-packed brown to red spots, usually grouped together along midline of back forming 6-7 large reddish-brown to brownish-orange spots, and an orange to dark brown line from the side of the snout through the eye almost to the margin of the gill cover. Some individuals have a tiger-like pattern of irregular dark brown bars along the lower side.

Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2022, Genus A sp 1 (in Gomon et al. 2008) in Fishes of Australia, accessed 30 Mar 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/5447

Brownspotted Spiny Clingfish, Genus A sp 1 (in Gomon et al. 2008)

More Info


Distribution

New South Wales to Wilsons Promontory, Victoria, northern Tasmania, and the southwest corner of Western Australia. Inhabits shallow seagrass beds, and also shelters amongst kelp (Ecklonia radiata) in New South Wales.

Features

Dorsal fin 3-4; Anal fin 4-5; Caudal fin (approx) 10-12; Pectoral fin 19-21; Pelvic fin I, 4; Vertebrae 31.
Body moderately depressed anteriorly, compressed posteriorly; caudal peduncle prominent; head moderately broad, depressed; snout rounded; eyes moderately small; mouth small, lower jaw slightly shorter than upper; strong spine hidden in flesh on each side of head; gill openings large, lateral, joined across isthmus. 
Single, short-based dorsal fin located posteriorly, widely separated from caudal fin; anal fin similar to and opposite dorsal fin; pelvic fins united into ventral sucking disc of moderate size, consisting of anterior and posterior halves, posterior edge with fleshy fringe; papillae within disc present right across region A.  

Colour

Pale green with many small closely packed brown to red spots, those along midline of back usually grouped together in the form of six or seven large reddish brown to brownish orange spots (in small specimens these larger spots usually represented by cross bars); orange, red or dark brown line on side of snout, continued through eye almost to opercular margin; tiger-like pattern of irregular dark brown bars on lower side of some individuals.

Author

Bray, D.J. 2022

Brownspotted Spiny Clingfish, Genus A sp 1 (in Gomon et al. 2008)

References


Hutchins, J.B. 1994. Family Gobiesocidae, in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds) The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. 992 pp.

Hutchins, J.B. 2008. Family Gobiesocidae. pp. 722-741 in Gomon. M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H (eds) Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.

Scott, E.O.G. 1976. Observations on some Tasmanian fishes: part 22. Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania 110: 157-217 (p. 187, as Cochleoceps spatula) See ref online

Quick Facts


Depth:1-10 m

Habitat:Seagrass beds, kelp

Max Size:3.4 cm TL

Native:Endemic

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