© 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.

---

Variegated Snake-blenny / Variegated Snake Blenny

Family Name:	Clinidae
Scientific Name:	Ophiclinops varius (McCulloch & Waite, 1918)
Recommended Status in S.A:	Data Deficient
Rationale:  Variegated 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, boating in shallow seagrass beds; also sediment- and effluent-induced dieback of seagrasses and 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, 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

O. varius is found in northern Tasmania and along the southern Australian coast, from Wilsons Promontory in Victoria, to the Recherche Archipelago in W.A. (Kuiter, 1993 and 1996b; Hoese et al., in Gomon et al., 1994; Hutchins, 2005).

South Australia

There are few published records. Examples of locations in South Australia where the species has been recorded include various coastal locations in Spencer Gulf; Sir Joseph Banks group islands (Spencer Gulf); Gulf St Vincent (e.g. Moana, and Sellicks Beach); and northern and north-eastern Kangaroo Island, from where the majority of records to date have come (Anonymous, 2001a, cited in Froese and Pauly, 2006; South Australian Museum record, 1917; Australian Museum records 1918, 1920, 1978, cited in OZCAM database, 2007).
The holotype comes from north-eastern Kangaroo Island (McCulloch and Waite, 1918; S.A. Museum record A F503, cited in OZCAM database, 2007).

Habitat

O. varius is found in the intertidal and shallow subtidal, to at least 14m (Museum of Victoria record, cited in OZCAM database, 2007).
The species has been recorded in various habitats, associated with both reefs and seagrass beds. Like most snake-blennies, O. varius occurs amongst the roots of seagrasses, and in organic litter, at the edge of sandy areas, bordering patches of weed and reef (Hoese et al., in Gomon et al., 1994). It is considered to be a cryptic, extremely well camouflaged species in areas of Amphibolis seagrass, with dropped leaves and other organic matter / detritus, on sand patches (Kuiter 1993; 1996b). O. varius is also found under rocks (Edgar, 2000). In northern Tasmania (e.g. Green’s Beach), the species has been collected from tidal rock pools (National Museum of Natural History records, cited by Anonymous, 2001). At Recherche Archipelago and Israelite Bay in south-western Australia, O. varius has been recorded rarely in reef habitats (Hutchins, 2005).

Notes on the Biology

The species grows to around 5cm (Hoese et al., in Gomon et al., 1994; Kuiter, 1996b).

Vulnerable Characteristics of the Species

The species appears to have very particular habitat requirements
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

Due to its particular habitat requirements, such as seagrass roots (see above), any processes that affect the quality and coverage of Amphibolis beds, may adversely affect this species. Examples may include physical disturbance to habitat and siltation from dredging, channel development, boating in shallow seagrass beds; also effluent-induced dieback of seagrasses etc.
It is noted that O. varius has also been recorded in nearshore reef habitats, and therefore reef degradation in some areas might also be a threatening process, but there are no specific data. 

Research Requirements

The species is uncommon 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.
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 areas of nearshore seagrass and reef in which this species may reside.