Cochleoceps bicolor, Adelaide, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
Cochleoceps bicolor, Adelaide, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
Distribution
Temperate Australasia
Description
12–15 blue lines across the top and sides of the body and a covering of numerous tightly packed red and purple dots, which are darker towards the tail. The eastern cleaner clingfish Cochleoceps orientalis, has red dots of a constant colour and blue lines which do not descend fully down the sides of the body. Both species are found in association with sponges, kelp or ascidians in relatively deep water. They are named cleaner clingfish because they sometimes cling to larger fishes such as morwongs and boxfishes, and pick off parasites living there.
Information
Max Size: 7 cm
Sea Temperature Range: 13.3-22.7°C
Depth: 5-40m
Habitat: Rocky Reef
Rarity
IUCN Threat Status: Not Evaluated
Occurrence: Frequent (11% 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: Few (2 per transect)
Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.
Edit by: GJ Edgar. 2008. Australian Marine Life. New Holland, Sydney
Copyright to the photographs on this site belongs solely to the credited photographers. Any requests for usage can be directed to the photographer through
enquiries@reeflifesurvey.com.