Banded Weedfish, Heteroclinus whiteleggii (Ogilby, 1894)

Scientific name: Heteroclinus whiteleggii
Alternative name/s:
Whitelegg's Weedfish, Long-nosed Weed-fish
Banded Weedfish, Heteroclinus whiteleggii Click to enlarge image
A Banded Weedfish at a depth of less than 0.3 m, in a rockpool at Wollongong, New South Wales. Image: Sascha Schulz
© Sascha Schulz

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Heteroclinus
    Species
    whiteleggii
    Family
    Clinidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The Banded Weedfish grows to 10 cm in length.

Introduction

The Banded Weedfish is a cryptic species that lives in rockpools, intertidal areas and shallow weed-covered rocky reefs. Its background colouration varies from pink to brown or green.

Identification

The species has a short-based first dorsal fin connected by membrane to a long-based second dorsal fin. The finger-like pelvic fin rays are positioned below the gill openings.

The background colouration of this fish is highly variable, ranging from pink to brown or green. There is usually a series of white dashes along the lower sides of the body.

Habitat

It occurs in rockpools, intertidal areas and shallow weed-covered rocky reefs.

Distribution

It is endemic to Australia, occurring in New South Wales from Byron Bay to Jervis Bay.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

References

  1. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  2. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.