Cape klipfish, photographed at 6m at Coral Gardens. Photo Geo Cloete.
Cape klipfish, photographed at 25m at the wreck of the "Gelderland" in Maori Bay. Photo Adriaan Johnson.
Cape klipfish, photographed at 6m at A-Frame. Photo Guido Zsilavecz.
The Cape klipfish Clinus brevicristatus is a rarely seen klipfish. Reaching only 12 cm in length but rarely seen at that size, it remains well hidden in densely overgrown reefs. It occurs on both sides of the Peninsula, and it seen equally infrequently on both sides. Colouration is quite variable, as is the case with many klipfishes, but red seems to dominate. While not unique, a bright white spot on the top part of the gill cover is very useful in narrowing the identification. There is at least one species with which this one can be confused, the agile klipfish Clinus agilis, and the differences are such that one needs to count fin spines and rays to be certain. The only other visual difference is that in the agile klipfish the membrane of the dorsal fin is opaque, while in the Cape klipfish there are regular translucent patches. This is not always completely obvious though, and one needs at least a photograph to determine this!
For more details on this species, see "Coastal Fishes of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay"
Coastal Fishes of the Cape Peninsula and False Bay, A Diver' Identification Guide, G Zsilavecz, 2005
The systematics of the fishes of the family Clindae in South Africa, ML Penrith, Annals of the South African Museum, Volume 55, Part 1, 1969
Smiths' Sea Fishes, MM Smith and PC Heemstra, 1986