© 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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Variable Snake-blenny

Family Name:	Clinidae / Ophiclinidae
Scientific Name:	Ophiclinus ningulus George and Springer, 1980
Recommended Status in S.A:	Data Deficient
Rationale:  Variable Snake-blenny is included here because (i) it is a benthic species with strong habitat association, 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 etc), but specific data are lacking; (ii) it is a member of the Clinidae, a family of viviparous fishes with low dispersive ability, a characteristic that can increase vulnerability to processes causing population decline; (iii) there is little information on the distribution within South Australia, relative abundance / population sizes within the range (including South Australia), biology and population dynamics of this species

Page Contents

Current Conservation Status

No listings known

Distribution

Southern Australia

O. ningulus is found across southern Australia and northern Tasmania (Kuiter, 1993, 1996b), but excluding New South Wales (Kuiter, 1996a). The recorded mainland distribution is from Wilsons Promontory in Victoria, to Cockburn Sound in W.A. (Hoese et al., in Gomon et al., 1994).
Lucky Bay in southern W.A. is the type locality (George and Springer, 1980; Eschmeyer, 2001).
Most museum records come from Victoria (e.g. Portland; locations in the Victorian bays, such as Portarlington, Rye, Mornington, Point Cook, Point Wilson, and Geelong; Wilsons Promontory); Bass Strait (e.g. Flinders Island; and a site between Hogan Group and East Moncoeur Island) and southern Western Australia (e.g. Cockburn Sound; Albany; Torbay; Lucky Bay) (Australian Museum records; Museum of Victoria records, cited in OZCAM database, 2008).

South Australia

There are few records from South Australia, possibly due to inadequate searching. Examples include Cape Northumberland, in the South-East of S.A. (Museum of Victoria record, 1990); Port Victoria (photograph by J. Lewis) and Port Gawler (photograph by R. Stuart-Smith, 2008) in eastern Spencer Gulf.

Habitat

The Variable Snake-blenny is mostly observed in reef areas; is particularly common in Port Phillip Bay, under rocks with weed; and also common in sponge habitat, from around 2m - 20m (Kuiter, 1993, 1996a, 1996b; Australian Museum record, cited in OZCAM database, 2008). Hoese et al. (in Gomon et al., 1994) recorded the habitat as being “areas of reef and weed, to depths of 20m”.
The holotype was collected at 10m, amongst macroalgae (George and Springer, 1980).

Notes on the Biology

O. ningulus grows to around 7.5cm (Kuiter, 1993).

Vulnerable Characteristics of the Species

The species is recorded over a narrow depth range (currently known from 2m to about 20m).
Members of the Clinidae (the family to which Ophiclinops belongs) are viviparous (bear live young), and therefore have low dispersive ability, a characteristic that can increase vulnerability to processes causing population decline.

Threatening Processes

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

Research Requirements

Records from South Australia are uncommon, likely due to its cryptic habits (amongst macroalgae and sponges) and small size. Paler individuals are very well camouflaged. Specific surveys are required to better determine the distribution and relative abundance of snake-blennies across the range, including South Australia.
The biology of this species is poorly known.
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 nearshore reef habitats in which this species resides.