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Clinus cottoides

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Clinus cottoides
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Blenniiformes
Family: Clinidae
Genus: Clinus
Species:
C. cottoides
Binomial name
Clinus cottoides
Synonyms
  • Blenniomimus cottoides (Valenciennes, 1836)

Clinus cottoides, the bluntnose klipfish, is a species of clinid that occurs in subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean around South Africa where it is a denizen of tide pools. This species can reach a maximum length of 15 centimetres (5.9 in) TL.[2] This species has a varied diet of benthic organisms including algae, crustaceans (isopods, amphipods, ostracods, copepods), mollusks (gastropods, chitons) and polychaete worms.[3] Comparing reproductive rates between males and females of the species, males tend to have a higher rate engaging in sexual activity. This results in a polygynandrous mating system.[4]

Description

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Body is slightly compressed, a relatively small head with a wedge shaped snout and obtuse profile angle. It has a cluster of 4 - 5 tentacles above each eye. The first 4 - 5 dorsal spines are slightly shorter than the rest, with no notches in the membrane between spines.

Colouration is typically yellow to dark brown with 4 to 7 distinct bars. Two dark stripes radiate from the eye towards the operculum, when young, these lines are separated by intermittent blue spots. It has a characteristic dark spot on the operculum and very large, dark eyes. The center of the eye is slightly behind the edge of lips.

Diagnostics

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Dorsal fin: XXXI - XXXVI spines, 4 - 6 soft rays. Anal fin: II spines, 21 - 25.

Images

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Representative images of this species can be found on the iNaturalist page for C. cottoides.

Reproduction

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Just as all members of the Clinidae family, it is viviparous.

References

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  1. ^ Holleman, W.; Clements, K.D.; Williams, J.T. (2014). "Clinus cottoides". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T178997A1557283. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T178997A1557283.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Clinus cottoides". FishBase. April 2013 version.
  3. ^ Food items for Clinus cottoides at www.fishbase.org.
  4. ^ Scheepers, Martinus (2019). "Mating System, Reproductive Success, and Sexual Selection in Bluntnose Klipfishes (Clinus cottoides)". The Journal of Heredity. 110 (3): 351–360. doi:10.1093/jhered/esz008. PMID 30726981. Retrieved 2020-03-07.