Little Weedfish, Heteroclinus puellarum (Scott 1955)
Other Names: Slender Weedfish, The Girls' Weedfish
The Little Weedfish, Heteroclinus puellarum. Source: Rudie Kuiter / Aquatic Photographics. License: All rights reserved
Summary:
A pale to dark brown weedfish with two or three blackish oblique bars extending posteriorly from behind each eye, dark dorsal and anal fins interspaced with pale patches and white tips, a dark caudal fin with white tips, and dusky pectoral and pelvic fins with brown spots forming transverse bands.
Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2019, Heteroclinus puellarum in Fishes of Australia, accessed 23 Jan 2025, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/7
Little Weedfish, Heteroclinus puellarum (Scott 1955)
More Info
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Distribution |
Endemic to southern Australia, from Wilsons Promontory, Victoria, to Kangaroo Island, South Australia, including Tasmania. Inhabits rocky reefs, tide pools and deep estuarine habitats. |
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Features |
Dorsal fin XXXIV-XL, 4-6; Anal fin II, 25-28; Pelvic fin I, 3; Caudal fin (segmented rays) 12; Pectoral fin 13-14; Lateral line 16-20 (arched portion) + 0-7 (straight portion); Gill rakers 1-2 + 0-6= 2-8. Body slender (depth at anal fin origin 15-18% SL), compressed. Head broad, of moderate size (23-27% SL); eyes of moderate size (4-7% SL); mouth of moderate size (upper jaw length 8-10% SL in females, 10-12% SL in males), jaws extending to below middle of eyes or to posterior edge of pupils; 13-15 circumorbital head pores arranged uniserially; three to five supratemporal pores (exclusive of median pore); each orbital tentacle short with rounded margin, bilobed, or weakly trilobed (1-4% SL); nasal tentacles elongate, with rounded margin, flap as long as tubular base; gill rakers on lower face frequently rudimentary or very short. Lateral line scales usually not extending beyond one-third of dorsal fin. Single continuous dorsal fin, originating just before or just behind posterior preopercular margins; anterior spines not elevated, (second spine 3-5% SL), flaps extending posteriorly from dorsal spines usually free; anal fin membrane weakly incised; basal quarter of last anal ray connected by membrane to caudal peduncle. Pelvic fins short, inner ray about one third length of second ray. |
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Species Citation |
Clinus puellarum Scott 1955, Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania 89: 139, pl. 1(1). Type locality: rock pool at East Beach, Low Head, northern Tasmania. |
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Author |
Bray, D.J. 2019 |
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Resources |
Little Weedfish, Heteroclinus puellarum (Scott 1955)
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.
Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 437 pp.
Last, P.R., Scott, E.O.G. & Talbot, F.H. 1983. Fishes of Tasmania. Hobart : Tasmanian Fisheries Development Authority 563 pp. figs.
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.
Scott, E.O.G. 1955. Observations on some Tasmanian fishes. Part 7. Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania 89: 131-146 fig. 1 See ref online
Williams, J.T., Holleman, W. & Clements, K.D. 2014. Heteroclinus puellarum. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014: e.T178936A1550041. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T178936A1550041.en. Downloaded on 17 August 2016.
