© 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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Shortfin Snake-blenny / Shortfin Snake Blenny

Family Name:	Clinidae
Scientific Name:	Ophiclinus brevipinnis George and Springer, 1980
Recommended Status in S.A:	Data Deficient
Rationale:  Shortfin 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 (such as physical disturbance to habitat and siltation from dredging, channel development; also sediment- and effluent-induced dieback of macroalgae and seagrasses etc), but specific data are lacking; (ii) to date, there are few records known in S.A., likely due to lack of targeted sampling; (iii) 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 (iv) very little is known of the full distribution, relative abundance and biology of this species.

Page Contents

Current Conservation Status

No formal listings known, but it is noted that Pogonoski et al. (2002) classified the closely related species Earspot Snake-blenny Ophiclinops hutchinsi as Data Deficient

Distribution

Southern Australia

Shortfin Snake-blenny O. brevipinnis is found along the south-western and south-central coast of Australia, with a currently known range from Recherche Archipelago in Western Australia, to Kangaroo Island, South Australia (Fricke, 1994; Hoese et al., in Gomon et al., 1994; Hutchins, 1994, 2005).

South Australia

The species has been recorded from few locations in S.A., possibly due to its cryptic nature. Examples of known locations include the Investigator Group of Islands in the eastern Great Australian Bight (Kuiter, 1983; Museum of Victoria record, 1982, cited in OZCAM database, 2007); south-western Spencer Gulf (Port Lincoln area) (Museum of Victoria record 1905, cited in OZCAM database, 2007; W.A. Museum data, cited by B. Hutchins, pers. comm., 2007), and northern and north-eastern Kangaroo Island (Australian Museum records, 1978, cited in OZCAM database, 2007).
Knob Point on the northern coast of Kangaroo Island is the type locality (Australian Museum record, 1978; Eschmeyer, 2001, 2004).

Habitat

The species has been recorded under rocky ledges, and around marine plants, usually to depths of around 15m (Hoese et al., in Gomon et al., 1994). It is noted that there are records of specimens collected at 18m and 25m (Museum of Victoria records, cited in OZCAM database, 2007). 
In south-western Australia, O. brevipinnis has been recorded rarely on both reefs and in seagrass beds at Israelite Bay, and occasionally on reefs in mainland bays (Hutchins, 2005).

Notes on the Biology

O. brevipinnis grows to around 7cm (Hoese et al., in Gomon et al., 1994).

Vulnerable Characteristics of the Species and Threatening Processes

This member of the Clinidae is site-associated in shallow coastal habitats (mainly with macroalgae-covered reefs, but also known from seagrass), and processes which damage such habitats may adversely affect populations of Clinid species. Examples might include physical disturbance to habitat and siltation (from dredging etc), also sediment- and effluent-induced dieback of macroalgae and seagrasses etc, but specific data are lacking.
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

The species is rare in fish collections, likely due to its cryptic habits and good camouflage. Specific surveys are required to better determine the distribution and relative abundance of Snake-blenny species across the range, including South Australia.
There is very little information on the biology and population dynamics of this species.
Information on the full 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 nearshore reef and seagrass habitats in which this species may reside.

Support for S.A. Listing:

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