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Adelaide weedfish (Heteroclinus adelaidae) — Clinidae

Adelaide weedfish

Heteroclinus adelaidae
Family: Clinidae

The Adelaide weedfish (Heteroclinus adelaidae) is a brackish-water fish of the family Clinidae that grows up to 9 cm.

Length
9 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
0–15.0 m
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Algae or seagrass meadow
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Adelaide weedfish is a weedfish or klipfish (Clinidae) from coastal waters of temperate coastal waters of southern Australia. The species grows to about 12 cm and has a slender, brown-green body with fine markings and small fringes, strongly camouflaged among weed and seagrass. As a bottom-dweller it shelters in weed beds and tide pools and snaps at small crustaceans, molluscs and worms; it bears live young. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Adelaide weedfish?

The Adelaide weedfish has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly green and shows a marbled pattern.

Where does the Adelaide weedfish live?

The Adelaide weedfish lives in brackish water and is mostly found around algae or seagrass beds.

How big does the Adelaide weedfish get?

The Adelaide weedfish grows to a maximum of about 9 cm.

Is the Adelaide weedfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Adelaide weedfish is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Adelaide-wiervis sourced
English name
Adelaide weedfish sourced
Scientific name
Heteroclinus adelaidae
Family
Clinidae
Other names
Adelaide's weedfish; Phillips weedfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
9.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Green sourced
Pattern
Marbled sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Algae or seagrass meadow sourced
Max depth (m)
15.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Heteroclinus

More from the family Clinidae

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