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🌊 Marine Least Concern 🌡️ Temperate

Hector's clingfish

Gastroscyphus hectoris Günther, 1876
Max Length
6.4 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
4 yrs
Trophic Level
3.3
Depth
0–10 m
Climate
Temperate
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
36.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
demersal

📖 Overview

Commonly amongst brown algae (Cystophora) in rock pools at the low tide level and subtidal areas. Sometimes found on seaweed exposed at low tide. Swims towards cover and positions itself like drifting algae (heads up tail down position, sculling with the pectoral fins) when disturbed.

Scientific Name
Gastroscyphus hectoris
Authority
Günther, 1876
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Temperate
Body Shape
Elongated
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
6.4 cm
Lifespan
4 years
Depth Range
0–10 m
Trophic Level
3.3
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
36.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

Genus
Gastroscyphus
Gastroscyphus
Species
Hector's clingfish
Gastroscyphus hectoris

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6 - 8; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 6 - 7. Color uniform or blotched reddish to olive green or brown dorsally, paler ventrally. A bar of lighter color along the head between the eyes and a narrow horizontal dark stripe from the snout to the gill cover separating the darker dorsal pigment from the paler lower surface. Occasionally a variable row of white spots along the side of the body. Distinguished from other clingfish by its distinctive body form (robust and tapers abruptly behind the dorsal and anal fins).: elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Hector's clingfish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

aquatic invertebrates
small fish
algae
detritus

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous 📦 Batch Spawner
Spawning Season
spring-summer
Spawn Location
Pelagic
Fertilization
External

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; demersal; depth range 0 - 10 m . Temperate Southwest Pacific: endemic to New Zealand.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine ⬇️ Benthic
Trophic Level
3.3±0.3

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00398 × L3.13 (TL)
Max TL
6.4cm
Dorsal Rays
7
Anal Rays
7

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2024

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Medium
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
36.00/100
Moderate vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.3
Predator
Body Shape
Elongated
Climate Zone
Temperate
Described By
Günther, 1876

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