| Cochleoceps orientalis | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Gobiesociformes |
| Family: | Gobiesocidae |
| Genus: | Cochleoceps |
| Species: | C. orientalis |
| Binomial name | |
| Cochleoceps orientalis | |
Cochleoceps orientalis, common name eastern cleaner-clingfish, is a species of clingfish that is endemic to the marine waters around southeastern Australia.
Cochleoceps orientalis grows to approximately 55 mm long. It has no scales, instead being protected by mucous which covers the body in a thick coating. It has an intense orange to greenish-yellow colouration. The body is scattered with dark red spots that diminish in size and intensity toward the belly. Numerous, short, thin, blue, iridescent lines are present on the back and sides. These lines are generally perpendicular to the length of the body. [2] [3]
The posterior part of the ventral fins appear as a fleshy fringe, with the anterior part merging into the sucking disc. Parts of the disc have dermal papillae which are flat. These probably allow the fish to adhere to surfaces. [4]
Cochleoceps orientalis lives in the marine waters of the southeastern part of Australia. It is found around New South Wales from Seal Rocks to Mallacoota, Victoria.
Cochleoceps orientalis normally lives in the demersal zone at depths of 3 to 40 metres. [5] It is most often found on the kelp species ecklonia radiata but can sometimes occur on ascidians and sponges at greater depths.
This species avoids swimming in open waters where it would vulnerable to predators. It instead it remains sucked onto kelp, and when moving, does so in short dashes.
Cochleoceps orientalis is known to clean parasites from red or other morwongs, leatherjackets (often known as ocean jackets), [6] eastern blue gropers, boxfish, and porcupinefish. [4]
Adults deposit their eggs on kelp, with both males and females remaining at the site. However, only the male guards them. [5]
Clingfishes are fishes of the family Gobiesocidae, the only family in the order Gobiesociformes. These fairly small to very small fishes are widespread in tropical and temperate regions, mostly near the coast, but a few species in deeper seas or fresh water. Most species shelter in shallow reefs or seagrass beds, clinging to rocks, algae and seagrass leaves with their sucking disc, a structure on their chest.
Kuiter's deepsea clingfish is a clingfish of the family Gobiesocidae, found only off southern Australia, at depths of between 90 and 110 metres.
Rudie Hermann Kuiter is an Australian underwater photographer, taxonomist, marine biologist and author of many identification guides to sea fishes. He has described new species of seahorses in the genus Hippocampus.
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The trumpeter whiting, Sillago maculata, is a common species of coastal marine fish of the smelt-whiting family, Sillaginidae. The trumpeter whiting is endemic to Australia, inhabiting the eastern seaboard from southern New South Wales to northern Queensland. The species is found in bays, estuaries, coastal lakes and mangrove creeks on silty and muddy substrates in waters ranging from 0 to 30 m deep, occasionally inhabiting sandy and seagrass beds.
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Paraplesiops is a genus containing five largely allopatric species of fishes in the longfin, or roundhead, family Plesiopidae, commonly known as blue devils, bluedevils, or blue devilfish because of their colouration. The genus is most similar to the tropical genera Plesiops and Fraudella. It is restricted to subtropical and temperate rocky and coral reefs in Australian waters. Its species are mostly cryptic, occurring in submarine caves, crevices and under rocky ledges.
Cochleoceps is a genus of clingfishes endemic to the waters around Australia.
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Histiogamphelus briggsii, also known as Brigg's pipefish, is a species of marine fish in the family Sygnathidae. It can be found in the shallow waters surrounding South Australia, New South Wales, and Northern Tasmania. Its habitat can consist of reefs, seagrass beds, and sandy beach and estuarine environments Individuals of this species can grow to lengths of 25 cm (9.8 in). They are an ovoviviparous species, in which males brood eggs and give birth to live young.
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Sydney Dives website, gallery of images (by Sarah Han-de-Beaux) showing eastern cleaner-clingfish swimming alone, or cleaning various species, including a Port Jackson shark, a white-ear damselfish, and a blue-lined goatfish.