| Heteroclinus kuiteri | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Blenniiformes |
| Family: | Clinidae |
| Genus: | Heteroclinus |
| Species: | H. kuiteri |
| Binomial name | |
| Heteroclinus kuiteri | |
Heteroclinus kuiteri, or Kuiters weedfish, [2] is a species of clinid native to the Indian Ocean coast of Australia. [3]
Heteroclinus kuiteri was described by Douglas F. Hoese and Denise S. Rennis in 2006. [4] 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. [4]
Male Heteroclinus kuiteri can reach a maximum length of 6 centimetres (2.4 in) SL. [3] 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. [4]
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. [4]
Heteroclinus kuiteri is a subtropical blenny found from southern to western Australia, in the eastern Indian Ocean, [4] [5] 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, [3] and have also been reported to swim at about 15 metres deep. [5]
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