Clinus superciliosus

Clinus superciliosus, the Super klipfish or Highfin klipfish, is a species of clinid that occurs in subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean from northern Namibia to the Kei River in South Africa where it can be found in the subtidal and intertidal zones. This species can reach a maximum length of 30 centimetres (12 in) TL.[2] This species feeds on benthic crustaceans including amphipods, isopods and crabs; sea urchins; gastropods; polychaete worms and other fishes.[3]

Clinus superciliosus

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Blenniiformes
Family: Clinidae
Genus: Clinus
Species:
C. superciliosus
Binomial name
Clinus superciliosus
Synonyms
  • Blennius superciliosus Linnaeus, 1758
  • Caboclinus superciliosus (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Blennius spadiceus Bloch & J. G. Schneider, 1801
  • Clinus ornatus Gilchrist & W. W. Thompson, 1908

Description

Size up to 30 cm, robust and slightly compressed. Males have tall dorsal crest comprising first three spines followed by deep notch in the membrane and the rest of the dorsal fin,. Females have a lower more rounded crest. The head is large and pointed, with a large mouth and thick lips. Prominent cirri above the eyes, which may be barely branched or quite bushy in mature adults. Colour highly variable, from white through yellow, orange, red, and brown to dark green. A dark mark on the upper part of the operdulum is common. Body patterning varies with a few distinct patterns. No pattern, with near uniform body colour; a broad white band from behind the eye, across the opercle, tapering to the caudal fin, which may be continuous or broken, with the rest of the body roughly uniform in colour; or highly mottled with vertical and horizontal bars and bands. Head pattern variable, ranging from broad oblique bars to a complex reticulated pattern. Eyes have broad radiating bars in body colour, red or yellow iris. Pectoral fins in body colour with translucent membrane.[4]

Distribution and habitat

Namibia to beyond [[East London<]].[4] Rock pools to at least 50m depth. Habitat preference roughly follows colouration, but they will also be found on a contrasting background. Pale animals seem to prefer sand, light green on Caulerpa beds, dark green on Codium and red on red algae.[4]

Taxonomy

Some authors regard Clinus superciliosus as a species complex consisting of the current species and C. arborescens and C. ornatus, as well as the two species described in 2012 C. exasperatus and C. musaicus.[5] Fishbase does not recognise C. ornatus,[6] but the Catalog of Fishes does.[7]

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References
  1. Holleman, W.; Williams, J.T. & Clements, K.D. (2014). "Clinus superciliosus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T179096A1569238. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T179096A1569238.en.
  2. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2013). "Clinus superciliosus" in FishBase. April 2013 version.
  3. Food items for Clinus superciliosus at www.fishbase.org.
  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
  5. Wouter Holleman; Sophie van der Heyden & Guido Zsilavecz (2012). "Delineating the fishes of the Clinus superciliosus species complex in southern African waters (Blennioidei: Clinidae: Clinini), with the validation of Clinus arborescens Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908 and Clinus ornatus Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908, and with descriptions of two new species". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 166 (4): 827–853. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2012.00865.x.
  6. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2019). Species of Clinus in FishBase. February 2019 version.
  7. Eschmeyer, W. N.; R. Fricke & R. van der Laan (eds.). "Clinus species". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
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