| Heteroclinus kuiteri | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Suborder: | Blennioidei |
| Family: | Clinidae |
| Genus: | Heteroclinus |
| Species: | H. kuiteri |
| Binomial name | |
| Heteroclinus kuiteri Hoese & Rennis, 2006 |
|
Heteroclinus kuiteri, known commonly as the Kuiters weedfish in Australia,[1] is a species of clinid in the genus Heteroclinus.[2]
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Heteroclinus kuiteri was described by Douglas F. Hoese and Denise S. Rennis in 2006.[3] The specific epithet "kuiteri" refers to Rudie Kuiter, who is credited by the authors with providing a substantial amount of matrial on other Australian clinids.[3]
Male Heteroclinus kuiteri can reach a maximum length of 6 centimetres.[2] 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.[3]
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.[3]
Heteroclinus kuiteri is a subtropical blenny found from southern to western Australia, in the eastern Indian Ocean,[3][4] 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,[2] and have also been reported to swim at about 15 metres deep.[4]