Whiteblotched klipfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Whiteblotched klipfish |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Blenniiformes |
| Family: | Clinidae |
| Genus: | Cancelloxus |
| Species: |
C. elongatus
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| Binomial name | |
| Cancelloxus elongatus Heemstra & J. E. Wright, 1986
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The whiteblotched klipfish (scientific name: Cancelloxus elongatus) is a small fish. It belongs to a group of fish called clinids. You can find it in the warm, subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It lives along the coast of South Africa. This fish likes sandy places with rocks nearby. It usually lives about 10 to 25 meters (33 to 82 feet) deep. The whiteblotched klipfish is quite small. It grows up to 5 centimeters (2 inches) long. It mainly eats tiny creatures that live on the seafloor.
Contents
About the Whiteblotched Klipfish
What it Looks Like
The whiteblotched klipfish has a long, thin body. Its head is pointed, and its lower jaw sticks out a little. Its back and belly lines are straight. This fish has small eyes.
Its dorsal fin (the one on its back) is low and even. The front spines on this fin are thin and can bend. The last few spines are stiff and sharp. The dorsal fin starts right above its gill cover. Its pelvic fins have rays that stick out about one-third of their length. The last ray is well-developed and quite long.
Colors and Size
This fish is usually pale or white. It has two dark stripes that go up and down its body. These stripes help it blend in with the sand and rocks where it lives. This camouflage helps it hide from predators.
The whiteblotched klipfish is a very small fish. It only grows to about 5 centimeters (2 inches) long.
Where it Lives
Habitat and Distribution
You can find the whiteblotched klipfish along the southern coast of South Africa. It lives from the Storms River mouth all the way to Algoa Bay.
This fish prefers areas with broken shells and sand. It likes to be near rocks in waters that are 10 to 25 meters (33 to 82 feet) deep.
Why it's Called "Elongatus"
The second part of its scientific name, Elongatus, means "elongated." This name was chosen because of the fish's long, stretched-out body shape.
