Estuary clingfish

📖 Overview

Known only from shallow bay (0-29 m) and estuarine areas along the coast of New Zealand. Usually it is asscoiated with mixed shell-bryozoan rubble benthic communities. Some speciments have also been collected in association with Zostra and mangroves. At the type locality, it is found predominantly in association with spent shells of bivalves over a substrate of fine sand and silt at depths below the low tide mark (0-3 m) .

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal soft rays (total): 8; Anal soft rays: 7; Vertebrae: 32. This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: adhesive disc region A without flattened papillae at the centre; apapillate area of adhesive disc region A is equal in width or wider than region C; the flap along posterior margin of anterior nostril is a short, thin blade; lachrymal canal pores 2 and 3 flush with surface of skin or weakly elevated above the skin; suborbital, mandibular and postorbital rows of superficial neuromasts are located in shallow grooves with smooth borders; suborbital row is continuous, extending along ventral margin of orbit; postorbital row with 3 superficial neuromasts; a single gill raker present along the anterior edge of ceratobranchial 1; D 8; A 7; pectoral-fin rays 25; vertebrae 14 + 18 = 32. Colouration: in life, a single dark brown or black irregular streak found on the lateral surface of head posterior to eye .Cross section: oval.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Estuary clingfish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Estuary clingfish is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Reproduction data for Estuary clingfish is currently being compiled.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Brackish; demersal; depth range 0 - 29 m . Tropical; 33°S - 47°S, 166°E - 179°E Southwest Pacific: New Zealand.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

👥 Community & Contribute