Duckbilled clingfish

📖 Overview

Duckbilled clingfish (Nettorhamphos radula) is a ray-finned fish. It inhabits marine (saltwater) waters in reef-associated environments. This species can reach a maximum total length of 4 cm. It occurs at depths between 33 and 37 metres. With a trophic level of 3.2, it is a low-level carnivore, feeding on invertebrates and small organisms. It is assessed as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

This species is distinguished by the following characters: unique features of oral jaws, including: an upper jaw which is much wider and longer than the lower jaw, creating a large gap between the outermost teeth of the upper jaw and those of the lower jaw (vs. upper and lower jaws similar in width and length and without obvious gap between outermost teeth of the upper jaw and those of the lower jaw or upper jaw only slightly wider and longer than the lower jaw creating a narrow gap between the outermost teeth of the upper jaw and those of the lower jaw); with tiny dagger-like conical teeth of uniform size arranged in multiple rows in both the upper (premaxilla; ca. 15 rows) and lower jaw (dentary; ca. 10 rows; vs. single row of conical teeth along the upper and lower jaws, a few short, staggered rows of incisiviform and/or conical teeth along both the upper and lower jaw, or conical teeth arranged in a broad patch anteriorly tapering to a single row posteriorly along both the upper and lower jaws); medial face of dentary without an anteromedially directed spine-like process; borad snout, rounded anteriorly, upper lip separated from snout by a shallow groove; adhesive disc double, with papillae present along the entire anterior margin of disc region A; patches of papillae on disc regions C and D; gill openings are large, joined across isthmus; presence of a well-developed spine laterally on head, formed by a heavily ossified subopercle; dorsal and anal fins are widely separated from caudal fin; dorsal fin with fewer fin rays compared to anal fin .: elongated; Cross section: oval.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Duckbilled clingfish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 33 - 37 m . Tropical Indian Ocean: Western Australia.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

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