Fleet klipfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fleet klipfish |
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The fleet klipfish, also known as Climacoporus navalis, is a small fish that lives in the ocean. It belongs to a group of fish called clinids. You can find it in warm, subtropical parts of the Atlantic Ocean, especially along the coast of South Africa. These fish often hang out in tide pools left behind when the ocean tide goes out. The fleet klipfish can grow up to about 7 centimeters (about 2.7 inches) long. It's special because it's the only known fish in its entire genus!
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What Does the Fleet Klipfish Look Like?
Body Shape and Features
The fleet klipfish has a long, somewhat flat body. Its head is slightly rounded. Above its eyes, it has two interesting, flat, hand-shaped feelers called tentacles. Its mouth has thick lips, and inside, it has rows of small teeth. There's a curved band of teeth on the roof of its mouth too.
Its back fin, called the Dorsal fin, is low and smooth. It doesn't have any hair-like growths on the tips of its spines. The first few spines on this fin are spaced out more than the others. The fish also has small, flap-like growths on its front nostrils.
Colors and Patterns
Fleet klipfish can come in many different colors! They might be reddish-brown, maroon, yellow-brown, or even greenish. Their bodies often have streaks, spots, or irregular stripes of darker green or brown. Their bellies are usually a creamy color.
The head of the fish can be green or reddish-brown. You might see a dark, oval spot with a light border near its back fin. It also has a dark band at the base of its tail fin, followed by two thinner bands and a few random spots. The edge of its anal fin (the fin on its underside) is usually pale.
How Big Do They Get?
This little fish can grow up to about 7 centimeters (2.7 inches) long.
Where Do Fleet Klipfish Live?
You can find the fleet klipfish along the coast of South Africa. They live in the ocean from a place called Still Bay all the way to Port St. Johns.
What is Their Home Like?
Fleet klipfish love to live in tide pools. These are pools of water left behind on rocky shores when the ocean tide goes out. They are quite common in these areas.
The name "Navalis" comes from a Latin word meaning "of or relating to ships." This is because the very first fleet klipfish ever found was caught near a ship in Simon's Town harbor in South Africa.
