Cancelloxus elongatus

Cancelloxus elongatus
Not evaluated (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Clinidae
Genus: Cancelloxus
Species: C. elongatus
Binomial name
Cancelloxus elongatus
Heemstra & J. E. Wright, 1986

Cancelloxus elongatus, the whiteblotched klipfish, is a species of clinid found in subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean along the South African coast. It prefers sandy habitats with nearby rocks at depths of from 10 to 25 metres (33 to 82 ft). It can reach a maximum length of 5 centimetres (2.0 in) TL.[1] This species preys primarily on zoobenthos.[2]


Description

Shape:

The body is elongate, with a pointed head and slightly projecting lower jaw. The dorsal and ventral profiles are straight. The eyes are small. The dorsal fin as low and of even height, with slender and flexible front spines, and the last 5 to 7 spines stiff and sharp. Dorsal fin origin is above the opercle. Pelvic fin rays extend about a third of their length beyond the membrane, with the last ray well developed and more than half the length of middle ray. [3]

Colour:

Pale to white with two dark vertical bars which blends in with the substrate on which they live and burrow. [3]

Size:

Attains 5cm.[4]

Distribution

South African south coast from Storms River mouth to Algoa Bay.[4]

Habitat

Fragmented shell and sand substrate areas near rocks in 10-25m.[4]

Etymology

Elongatus: as in elongated, referring to the body shape.

References

  1. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2013). "Cancelloxus elongatus" in FishBase. April 2013 version.
  2. Food and Feeding habits of Cancelloxus elongatus at www.fishbase.org.
  3. 1 2 3 Heemstra, P.C. & Wright, J.E., 1986. Two new Species of Clinid Fishes (Perciformes: Clinidae) from South Africa. Special Publication J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology 40: 1 – 11
  4. 1 2 3 Smith, M.M. & Heemstra, P.C., editors. 1986. Smith's Sea Fishes. Southern Book Publishers. 1047pp.


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