Super klipfish with bluespotted klipfish in its mouth.
A different view.
In more detail.
Photos Andrew Taylor
Yellow bluespotted klipfish, as found in yellow hydroids species.
Green bluespotted klipfish, as found in caulerpa beds, very uncharacteristically out of its habitat, showing how conspicuous it becomes.
Pink bluespotted klipfish, as found in similarly pink Plocamium corralhiza bushes.
Photos of bluespotted klipfish by Guido Zsilavecz
Andrew Taylor saw this super klipfish swimming with the blue-spotted klipfish in its mouth - a rare sight of an actual catch.
During my research into the bluespotted klipfish to determine whether it was a new species or not (it is), I had to catch several. The easiest I found was to use a simple large plastic freezer bag. The bluespotted klipfish, like most klipfish in fact, are sessile fish, using their colouration as camouflage to remain undetected, and only move in quick, short bursts, to escape if they have to. To catch one all that was needed was to carefully slip the opening of the bag over the area the fish was hiding in, and slowly close the opening - the fish would dart up, into the bag, and was thus trapped. On numerous occasions the commotion this caused resulted in a larger super klipfish appearing, very interested in what I was doing. A few times the bluespotted managed to escape, and the super klipfish would dash after it, but I never saw an actual catch - although I rarely found the same bluespotted again... At other times the bluespotted klipfish darting inside the see-through bag caused the super klipfish from aggressively swimming into the side of the bag, clearly trying to capture the bluespotted. I such cases I quickly moved away and transferred the little fish into my collection jar. What Andrew's picture shows however is that these super klipfish were not just being opportunistic, but actually prey on the bluespotted. Size-wise this makes sense, with the super klipfish reaching 30 cm, while the bluespotted is substantially smaller, reaching only 12 cm, although that's a large specimen.
The bluespotted klipfish comes in a variety of colours, with a few distinct ones closely related to the environment I've always found them in as shown in the examples. When fleeing the fish will generally try and remain within an area where their colour protects them. This can be observed with the related peacock klipfish (Pavoclinus pavo) as well. I have also often observed super klipfish in a colour resembling their environment, but unlike the other two species it will readily move into a very different area, becoming very conspicuous. This has led me to believe that while the bluespotted and peacock klipfish use their colour largely as defensive camouflage - that is, to remain undetected from predators, the super klipfish uses its camouflage to remain undetected by potential prey. Of course, for both fish their colour serves the other way around as well (bluespotted klipfish eat small crustaceans, super klipfish are preyed on by larger fish and sharks and probably seals), but I think the main aim of their colour is as stated.
For more details on klipfish, see see "Coastal Fishes of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay", available directly from SURG as well as better dive and book stores in Cape Town.
Coastal Fishes of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay, A Diver' Identification Guide, G. Zsilavecz, 2005
Zsilavecz, G. 2001. Pavoclinus caeruleopunctatus, A new Species of Clinid Fish (Perciformes: Clinidae) from South Africa. Special Publication No. 66. JLB Smith Institute of Ichthyology, Grahamstown.