© 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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Dusky Crawler  / Clarke’s Snake Blenny

Family Name:	Clinidae / Ophiclinidae
Scientific Name:	Sticharium clarkae George and Springer, 1980
Recommended Status in S.A:	Data Deficient
Rationale:  Sticharium clarkae is included here because (i) the species is strongly site-associated with shallow coastal habitats that may be vulnerable to impacts; and (ii) Clinids reproduce at a small, site-associated scale (and have live young), characteristics that may increase the species vulnerability to population decline. There are very few published records of this species across its range, including South Australia, and little is known of its relative abundance, biology, population dynamics, habitat requirements and ecology.

Page Contents

Current Conservation Status

No listings known

Distribution

Southern Australia

The species occurs in southern Australia, ranging from Montague Island in N.S.W. to Cape Naturaliste in W.A (Kuiter, 1993; Hoese et al., in Gomon et al., 1994). There are very few published records of this species (OZCAM database, 2007), and only two known from W.A. (both in the Cape Naturaliste region) (B. Hutchins, W.A. Museum, pers. comm., 2007).
The holotype specimen is from south-west of Anglesea in Victoria (George and Springer, 1980).

South Australia

To date, only one published record of this species in South Australia could be found for this report, being a specimen collected in 1975 from the Robe area, in the upper South East (Australian Museum record, cited in OZCAM database, 2007).

Habitat

The species occurs in sand, under or near rocks (Hoese et al., in Gomon et al., 1994), in relatively sheltered, shallow sandy bays (Kuiter, 1993).
To date, S. clarkae has been recorded in waters between 5m – 10m (Kuiter, 1993).

Notes on Biology and Behaviour

Growth

S. clarkae is reported to grow to 8cm (Kuiter, 1993; Hoese et al., in Gomon et al., 1994).

Reproduction

The species forms mating pairs, which is a characteristic of clinid fishes.
Like other members of the family, the Dusky Crawler is viviparous (Gunn and Thresher, 1991).

Behaviour

The Dusky Crawler lives buried in sand (Hoese et al., in Gomon et al., 1994).

Vulnerable Characteristics of the Species

Although there is insufficient information on the full depth range, to date, the Dusky Crawler has been recorded over a very narrow depth range (of 5m) in nearshore habitats.
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.

Threatening Processes

Threatening processes are not well known for this species.
It is possible that, given the apparent narrow depth range of the species in sandy bays, dredging or other habitat disturbance of nearshore areas may impact on localised populations in some parts of the range, but there are no data.

Research Requirements

There are very few records of this species. As is the case with most other small, cryptic, sand- and rock-dwelling fishes, targeted surveys in nearshore habitats are required to better determine the distribution of this species (including its distribution within S.A.), its habitat requirements and full depth range.
Very little is known of the biology and population dynamics of this species.

Other Information

S. clarkae is one of the two species of Sticharium, and both are confined to the southern coast of Australia (Kuiter, 1996b).