Cancelloxus longior

Cancelloxus longior is a species of clinid found in subtropical waters of the South African coast. It can be found in areas with a sand substrate from the intertidal zone to a depth of about 10 metres (33 ft). Males of this species can reach a maximum length of 9.1 centimetres (3.6 in) SL, while females can reach a maximum length of 12.1 centimetres (4.8 in) SL.[2]

Cancelloxus longior

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Blenniiformes
Family: Clinidae
Genus: Cancelloxus
Species:
C. longior
Binomial name
Cancelloxus longior
Prochazka & Griffiths, 1991

Description
  • Fins: Dorsal fin spines 38 to 43, rays 11 to 15; Anal fin spines 2, rays 51 to 57; Pectoral fin rays 13 to 15; Ventral fin spines 1, rays 3; Caudal fin rays 11 to 15
  • Gill rakers in outer series of first arch 4+6.
  • Vertebrae (17 to 18)+(56 to 57).
  • Body depth 8.6 to 12.7 in Standard length.
  • Head length 5.1 to 6.7 in Standard length.
  • Eye 4.2 to 5.4 diameters in head length.
  • Caudal peduncle 25 to 38% head length, depth 16 to 24% head length.

Shape:

Body very slender, elongate and snake-like, not depressed. Head short and depressed, sharply pointed, with lower jaw that projects prominently. No cirri above the eye. Dorsal fin low and even[3][4]

Colour:

Body white with pale cream to light brown blotches, forming irregular saddles on the back,[4] or off-white with a dense pattern of small irregular mauve spots which are enlarged on the dorsal surface and become sparse below the lateral line. The fish has a translucent appearance.[3] Below the saddles is a pearly horizontal line, separated by a thin white, then light brown line from the white to pearly white ventral area. The pupils of the eyes are black with a yellow to orange iris. The rest of the eye is blotched like the adjacent area.[4]

Size:

Attains 121mm.[3]

Distribution

Groenrivier on the West coast of South Africa to Fishhoek.[3]

Habitat

Fine, pale and densely packed sandy areas to about 10m, with the sand having an irregular surface, without distinct ridges. Such sand is more commonly found in calm areas behind headlands and in bays. Sand may not be a shallow cover over rocks, but must be of substantial depth. Open expanses are preferred.[4]

Behaviour

The fish lies just below the surface area of the sand, showing at most the head. It digs itself in by slowly moving the “S” shape sideways, only leaving the head exposed. The depression left by the body is generally very apparent initially, but the fine sand settles in the depression, rapidly evening the surface out, and the fish becomes virtually invisible.[4]

Etymology

Longior: meaning longer, referring to the extremely elongate body form.

gollark: I didn't even get to post my great ideas about it.
gollark: Wow, the name exclusivity thread has become surprisingly heated.
gollark: Or B⁡o⁡b⁡⁡, with vast amounts of invisible characters.
gollark: You could also say Βob, which is identical-looking but uses a capital β instead of an actual B.
gollark: Or, well, human languages™.

References
  1. Holleman, W.; Clements, K.D.; Williams, J.T. (2014). "Cancelloxus longior". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T179050A1563788. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T179050A1563788.en.
  2. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2013). "Cancelloxus longior" in FishBase. April 2013 version.
  3. Prochazka, K. & Griffiths, C.L, 1991. Cancelloxus longior, a new Species of Xenopoclinin Fish (Perciformes: Clinidae) from South Africa. Special Publication J.L.B. Smith institute of Ichthyology 51: 1 – 6.
  4. Zsilavecz, Guido, 2005. Coastal fishes of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay: A divers' identification guide. SURG, Cape Town. ISBN 0-620-34230-7
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