Agile klipfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Agile klipfish |
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The Clinus agilis, also known as the agile klipfish, is a cool type of fish found in the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean. You can spot it from Namibia all the way to South Africa. These fish often live in estuaries (where rivers meet the sea) and tide pools. The agile klipfish can grow up to about 10 centimetres (3.9 in) long.
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What Does It Look Like?
The agile klipfish has a body that is a bit long and slightly flat. Its back gently curves from its nose to its dorsal fin. The snout (nose area) is quite sharp, and its mouth is narrow at the front but wider towards its gills. It has thick lips and its jaws are about the same size.
Fins and Features
This fish has several fins:
- A long dorsal fin on its back.
- An anal fin on its belly side.
- Pectoral fins on its sides, like arms.
- Ventral fins underneath, near its head.
It has special features like small, branched tentacles above its eyes. These look like tiny tree branches! Its front nostrils also have long, pointy cirri (small, fleshy growths). The dorsal fin is low, and the first three spines are not raised up. There's usually a small dip or notch in the fin between the third and fourth spines.
Colourful Patterns
Adult agile klipfish have amazing colours! They are often mottled (patchy) dark grey, brown, or grey-green. They can have seven or eight irregular darker bars that might be reddish or green. These bars sometimes go onto the base of their dorsal fin.
You might also see a dark band near the tail and a dark patch on the back of their neck. Their heads are often spotted. Fins can have dark spots or be irregularly barred. Sometimes, males might have reddish blotches on their dorsal fin. Some fish are even pinkish or milky white with darker pink bars, or bright red with dark brown bars!
There are two main pattern types:
- Type 1: Seven irregular vertical bars that can be so wide the fish looks almost black, dark brown, or dark red.
- Type 2: Four thin, dark vertical bars, making the fish look paler overall.
They always have two lines coming from their eye. One is thick and goes towards the back, and a thinner one slants downwards and backwards. Their eyes are usually light brown with a dark pupil. The top of their head is often dark, but the area between their eyes is pale. They usually have a dark spot on their shoulder, often outlined in white.
Young agile klipfish are mostly dark red-brown with similar markings. As they grow, they become more grey-green.
How Big Do They Get?
The agile klipfish can grow up to about 10 cm (4 inches) long. The biggest one ever found was 13.6 cm (about 5.3 inches) long!
Where Do They Live?
You can find the agile klipfish along the coast from Lüderitz in Namibia to Port Alfred in South Africa. They are very common west of Cape Point and in the seagrass beds of the Knysna estuary. You might also spot them in rock pools in places like Sea Point and False Bay, especially in Simon's Town harbour.
Their Home Environment
These fish love to live in tide pools along the coast, especially where there's lots of seaweed. They also hang out among the seagrass in estuaries. They are good at hiding among the plants in these pools and estuaries.
Agile klipfish are usually found on the bottom, often close to sand. This is different from some other klipfish species that prefer reef walls. They can even be found in rock pools that don't have much plant life.
What's in a Name?
The name Agilis comes from the word "agile." This means quick and nimble, which perfectly describes how this fish moves!
