Heteroclinus kuiteri

Heteroclinus kuiteri, Kuiters weedfish,^[1] is a species of clinid native to the Indian Ocean coast of Australia.^[2]

Etymology

Heteroclinus kuiteri was described by Douglas F. Hoese and Denise S. Rennis in 2006.^[3] The specific epithet "kuiteri" refers to Rudie Kuiter, who is credited by the authors with providing a substantial amount of material on other Australian clinids.^[3]

Description

Male Heteroclinus kuiteri can reach a maximum length of 6 centimetres (2.4 in) SL.^[2] The colouration of the blennies varies, with both male and female bodies being primarily brown. The blennies are sometimes uniformly brown in colour, but can also possess a white-brown mottled band from the eyes to the tail, or approximately 8 dark brown bands along the body (most frequently shown in females), which become darker on the back.^[3]

Hoese and Rennis describe H. kuiteri as being most closely related to its sister taxon H. adelaidae and H. macrophthalmus, with all three species possessing a broad membrane connecting the anal ray to the caudal peduncle.^[3]

Distribution

Heteroclinus kuiteri is a subtropical blenny found from southern to western Australia, in the eastern Indian Ocean,^[3][4] Blennies in this species dwell in shallow waters in the presence of rocks and weeds. The blennies are known to swim at a depth range of 5–13 metres,^[2] and have also been reported to swim at about 15 metres deep.^[4]

References