Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Gobiesociformes (Clingfishes) >
Gobiesocidae (Clingfishes and singleslits) > Diademichthyinae
Etymology: Rhinolepadichthys: The suffix 'rhino', meaning nose, in combination with the genus Lepadichthys, refers to the pointed snout in members of this genus, which distinguishes the new genus from Lepadichthys (sensu stricto).; polyastrous: Name from combination of the New Greek 'polys' and 'astrous'” meaning 'many stars'” referring to
the many characteristic yellow dots on the body..
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 9 - 32 m (Ref. 130914). Tropical
Distribution
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri
Southwestern Indian Ocean: Mozambique and South Africa.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 3.1 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 130914)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 11; Anal soft rays: 9. This species is distinguished from other members of the Lepadichthys lineatus.
complex by the following set of characters: body comparatively slender, its depth 10.8-14.9 (mean 13.1) % SL; adhesive disc elliptical, its length 17.0-20.6 (18.7) and width 11.6-13.9 (12.9) % SL, ratio of length to width 1.26-1.61; anus positioned somewhat anteriorly, the pre-anus length and disc to anus length 62.0-68.3 (65.8) and 21.6- 28.9 (25.8) % SL, respectively; snout tip is directed downward, usually horizontally level with lower margin of eye (lateral view); abdomen with a single yellow stripe along the ventral midline; dorsal and lateral surfaces of body with yellow dots, forming c. six to eight and three to five longitudinal rows, respectively (Ref. 129525),
Partially digested crinoid pinnules were found in the stomach of a specimen suggesting a diet
of L. polyastrous similar to that of L. lineatus (Ref. 129525).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Fujiwara, K. and H. Motomura, 2021. Review of the Lepadichthys lineatus complex (Gobiesocidae: Diademichthyinae) with descriptions of three new species. J. Fish Biol. 100(1):62-81. (Ref. 129525)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = No PD50 data [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.4 ±0.2 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
