Chelidonichthys capensis
Cape gurnard
Distribution
Temperate Africa
Description
Mottled, red and brown bottom dwelling fish. Pectoral fins with first three rays separated and claw like which it perches on on the bottom, and remaining rays long and fan like with interior side of fin dark with a bright blue margin and 3 or 4 large blue spots. Head relatively high with the eyes on top and snout slightly pointed.
Information
Max Size: 75 cm
Sea Temperature Range: 14.9-19.3°C
Depth: 10-390m
Habitat Generalization Index: N/A
Also referred to as the SGI (Species Generalisation Index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species. Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here.
Conservation and Rarity
IUCN Status: Not Evaluated
Occurrence: Widespread (100% of sites)
Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed
Abundance: Solitary (1 per transect)
Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.
Edit by: Joe Shields