Clinus arborescens

Clinus arborescens is a species of clinid that occurs in temperate waters of the Indian Ocean around South Africa. This species can reach a length of 22 centimetres (8.7 in) SL.^[2] It is a demersal species, found in beds of Rhodophyta where it feeds on small molluscs.^[1]

Clinus arborescens
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Blenniiformes
Family:	Clinidae
Genus:	Clinus
Species:	C. arborescens
Binomial name
Clinus arborescens Gilchrist & W. W. Thompson, 1908
Synonyms
Clinus superciliosus arborescens Gilchrist & W. W. Thompson, 1908

Description

Body is slightly compressed, with a wedge-shaped snout and acute profile angle. Like many others of the clinidae family, it has a tentacle above each eye. The first three dorsal spines are elevated to form a crest, with a notch in the membrane between the third and fourth spine. The dorsal spines are topped with clusters of fine cirri. The inner ray of the pelvic fin is thin and close to second ray, third is half length of second ray.

Coloration can vary between brown, red, and green, with 2 - 4 diffuse saddles. One light stripe radiates from the eye, past the pectoral fin, and towards the caudal peduncle, there is an ocellate spot on the edge of the operculum, right above the light stripe. Eye is slightly behind edge of lips.

Diagnostics

Dorsal fin: XXXVI - XLI spines, 4 - 7 soft rays (XXXVIII - XXXIX, 5 - 6). Anal fin: II spines, 25 - 28. Pectoral fin: 13 - 15 rays. Pelvic fins: I, 3. Vertebrae 17-19 (18) + 32-34. Lateral line scales 37-43 + 27-32 (39 or 40 + 28-32, mode 40 + 30). Head length 3.2-4.1 [3.7] in SL. Eye diameter 2.7-5.6, maxilla 2.0-2.9 [2.4], snout 3.0-4.6 [3.7] in HL. Dorsal-fin origin 1.3-2.0 [1.6] in HL. Dorsal fin height 8.0-14.3 [10.9] in SL.^[3]

Common Names

Autumn Klipvis; Autumn Klipfish.

Images

Representative images of this species can be found on the iNaturalist page for C. arborescens.

Reproduction

Just as all members of the Clinidae family, it is viviparous.^{[citation needed]}