© Baker, J.L. (2009) Marine Species of Conservation Concern in South Australia Full citation Baker, J.L. (2009) Marine Species of Conservation Concern in South Australia: Volume 1 - Bony and Cartilaginous Fishes. Report for the South Australian Working Group for Marine Species of Conservation Concern. J. Baker (consultant); Science and Conservation Division, and Coast and Marine Conservation branches of S.A. Department for Environment and Heritage (DEH); Marine and Coastal Community Network of S.A. (MCCN), and Threatened Species Network (TSN). Web version published by Reef Watch, South Australia.

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Adelaide Snake-blenny / Adelaide Blenny / Dusky Snake Blenny

Family Name:	Clinidae / Ophiclinidae
Scientific Name:	Ophiclinus antarcticus Castelnau, 1872
Recommended Status in S.A:	Data Deficient
Rationale:  Adelaide Snake-blenny is included in this list because (i) it is a benthic species, strongly site-associated in nearshore habitats, and found over a narrow depth range, and may thus be vulnerable to habitat impacts in some areas (e.g. due to dredging / channel clearing, shallow-water boating, and possibly trawling); (ii) members of the Clinidae family are viviparous, and therefore have low dispersive ability, a characteristic that can increase vulnerability to processes causing population decline; and (iii) very little is known of the full distribution, relative abundance and biology of this species.

Page Contents

Current Conservation Status

No listings known

Distribution

Southern Australia

Adelaide Snake-blenny O. antarcticus is restricted to southern Australia, and of western distribution, with a currently known distribution from Cockburn Sound in Western Australia to Kangaroo Island and Fleurieu Peninsula (see below), South Australia (Hoese et al., in Gomon, 1994; Kuiter, 1996a; Hutchins, 1994, 2005).

South Australia

Examples of locations in S.A. where the species has been recorded include northern Kangaroo I. (e.g. Stokes Bay); north-eastern Kangaroo Island (including Pelican Lagoon and Island Beach) and the Dudley Peninsula; various locations along the metropolitan Adelaide coast (including Moana, and O’Sullivans Beach) and Fleurieu Peninsula (including Rapid Bay, Cape Jervis, and other locations); far northern Gulf St Vincent (e.g. Port Wakefield area); “heel” of Yorke Peninsula / Troubridge Island area, and waters further east (i.e. Edithburgh, and southern Gulf St Vincent); south-eastern Spencer Gulf; Port Victoria, Tickera, and other sites in eastern Spencer Gulf; Western Spencer Gulf (e.g. off Franklin Harbour, and Tumby Bay); south-western Spencer Gulf (e.g. Port Lincoln area); and the bays, saline creeks and inner islands of the Ceduna / Smoky Bay region, on the west coast / eastern Great Australian Bight (Hureau, 1991; Anonymous, 2001a, cited in Froese and Pauly, 2006; photograph by J. Lewis; South Australian Museum records, 1916 and 1936, cited in OZCAM database, 2007; S.A. Museum data, cited by R. Foster, pers. comm., 2006, 2007; Australian Museum records, CSIRO Marine Research records, Museum of Victoria records, cited in OZCAM database, 2007; W.A. Museum data, cited by B. Hutchins, pers. comm., 2007; S. Reynolds, MLSSA, pers. comm., 2008). 
It is noted that the majority of specimens lodged in museums are from South Australia.

Habitat

The species has been recorded under nearshore rocks and submerged logs, commonly near jetties with decaying seagrass leaves (Kuiter, 1996a). Divers have also recorded the species on sandy bottom with shell grit, rubble, decaying seagrass leaves, and coralline and other red macroalgae.
In south-western W.A., the species has been recorded rarely on reefs in mainland bays, and in Israelite Bay (Hutchins, 2005).
To date, records are known from the shallowest subtidal (0m – 1m) to at least 18m (Australian Museum records, CSIRO Marine Research records, Museum of Victoria records, cited in OZCAM database, 2007).

Notes on the Biology

O. antarcticus grows to around 14cm (Hoese et al., in Gomon et al., 1994) or 17.5cm (Kuiter, 1996a).
The species probably feeds on amphipods (Kuiter, 1996a).

Vulnerable Characteristics of the Species and Threatening Processes

Members of the Clinidae are site-associated in shallow coastal habitats (seagrass beds, reefs, sand habitats), and processes which damage such habitats may adversely affect populations of Clinid species.
Members of the family are viviparous (bear live young), and therefore reproduce at a local, site-associated level, and have low dispersive ability, characteristics that can increase vulnerability to processes causing population decline. However, the difficulty of determining distribution and relative abundance of small, cryptic, benthic species such as snake-blennies is noted.

Threatening Processes

Channel clearing / dredging may pose a threat to populations of Adelaide Snake-blenny, which has been recorded from a number of shallow bays in South Australia, including areas with heavy boating traffic and channel maintenance works such as periodic dredging. Given that the species is benthic, in sand and rubble habitats (at least to 18m), and has limited mobility and localised reproduction, then processes such as prawn trawling may also pose a threat to populations of Adelaide Blenny in some areas, but there are no data.

Research Requirements

There is little information about the current distribution, full depth range, biology and population dynamics of this species.
Information on the distribution, relative abundance, habitat requirements and biology may help in better determining the susceptibility of snake-blennies to threats such as habitat degradation. However, the difficulty of determining distribution and relative abundance of small, cryptic, benthic species such as snake-blennies is noted.

Management Requirements

Generally, protection from degradation is required for areas of nearshore sand, rubble reef, and seagrass in which this species may reside.

Support for S.A. Listing:

Graham Edgar (University of Tasmania), under Data Deficient category