Georgina Jones (CC-BY-SA), Cape Town
Info
Clinus ornatus Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908
Color, usually very vivid. A yellowish or grayish brown with small dark brown spots, 6 irregular dark brown transverse stripes with orange margins extending to the dorsal fin; orange markings and spots on head, body, dorsal and anal fins; pectoral fins transparent with 5 rows of brown spots with orange tint; caudal fin almost transparent with 2 orange transverse stripes near the end and orange and brown spots; ventral fin light green, often banded with orange.
Clinus ornatus differs from all other species of the complex by the shape and position of the dorsal fin crest, in which the three spines of the crest are of different lengths in males, whereas in the other species the first spine (the first two spines in Clinus arborescens) is longer than the subsequent spines.
The species name “ornatus” is Latin and means “adorned, decorated”.
While a great deal is known about the clipefish Clinus superciliosus, which is also native to South Africa, Clinus ornatus unfortunately seems to have received less attention to date.
Color, usually very vivid. A yellowish or grayish brown with small dark brown spots, 6 irregular dark brown transverse stripes with orange margins extending to the dorsal fin; orange markings and spots on head, body, dorsal and anal fins; pectoral fins transparent with 5 rows of brown spots with orange tint; caudal fin almost transparent with 2 orange transverse stripes near the end and orange and brown spots; ventral fin light green, often banded with orange.
Clinus ornatus differs from all other species of the complex by the shape and position of the dorsal fin crest, in which the three spines of the crest are of different lengths in males, whereas in the other species the first spine (the first two spines in Clinus arborescens) is longer than the subsequent spines.
The species name “ornatus” is Latin and means “adorned, decorated”.
While a great deal is known about the clipefish Clinus superciliosus, which is also native to South Africa, Clinus ornatus unfortunately seems to have received less attention to date.
