© 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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Coleman’s Weedfish

Family Name:	Clinidae
Scientific Name:	Heteroclinus sp. 4 (Hoese et al., in Gomon et al., 1994) or Heteroclinus sp. 1 (in Kuiter, 1993, 2000)
Recommended Status in S.A:	Data Deficient
Rationale:  Coleman’s Weedfish is included here because (i) the species is strongly site-associated in nearshore habitats, likely occurs over a narrow depth range, and may thus be vulnerable to habitat impacts in some areas (particularly degradation of nearshore reefs), but there are no specific data; (ii) the distribution within S.A., the western edge of the range, is poorly known; and (iii) clinids reproduce at a small, site-associated scale (and have live young), characteristics that may increase the species vulnerability to population decline; and (iv) there is no knowledge of population sizes within the range (including in S.A.), and very little is known of the biology and population dynamics.

Page Contents

Current Conservation Status

No listings known

Distribution

Coleman’s Weedfish occurs in southern waters from New South Wales and Bass Strait region, through to South Australia (Kangaroo Island) (Kuiter, 1993, 1996b).

Habitat

Report to usually occur in beds of large red macroalgae, on rock faces, from around 5m – 15m (Kuiter 1993; Kuiter, 1996b).

Notes on the Biology

Growth

Coleman’s Weedfish grows to around 10cm (Hoese et al., in Gomon et al., 1994; Kuiter, 1996b).
No estimates of longevity were found for this report; however, it is noted that post-settlement growth is rapid, and a study of 12 weedfish species in south-eastern Australia reported that most of the reproductive populations consist of fishes in the 1 + year-class (Gunn and Thresher, 1991).

Reproduction

Temperate weedfishes are viviparous, many are “super-foetate” (simultaneously developing multiple batches of eggs and/or embryo) and reproduce over several months in spring and summer (Gunn and Thresher, 1991). Maternal investment in the nutrition of the young is high. After parturition, the larvae spend from 3 to 7 weeks in the plankton, primarily in in-shore waters (Gunn and Thresher, 1991).

Vulnerable Characteristics of the Species and Threatening Processes

Coleman’s Weedfish is site-associated in coastal areas of macroalgae, 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.

Research Requirements

As indicated in the section above, very little is known of the distribution and relative abundance of this species across the range (including South Australia). Information is lacking on the 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 weedfishes to threats such as habitat degradation. However, the difficulty of determining distribution and relative abundance of small, cryptic, benthic species such as weedfishes is noted.
Targeted survey work and taxonomic research are both required to determine the distribution of the less commonly recorded Heteroclinus species in South Australia. Weedfish are difficult to identify in situ, and a photographic record should be taken where possible.

Management Requirements

Coleman’s Weedfish is site-associated in nearshore reef habitats. Habitat protection is required from processes that degrade the quality of nearshore reefs and associated macroalgae (e.g. physical damage; eutrophication; siltation etc).