Heteroclinus heptaeolus
Creators: name: Hoese, Douglass F.
name: Hay, Amanda
name: Dibattista, Joseph D.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Perciformes
Clinidae
Heteroclinus
Heteroclinus heptaeolus

description: Heteroclinus heptaeolus (Ogilby, 1885)
Plates 2, 3, Figures 2, 6, 7, Tables 1–5, 7, 11–12
Common Name: Ogilby’s Weedfish
Petraites heptaeolus Ogilby, 1885: 225, Port Jackson, New South Wales, Australia.
Petraites heptaeolus.— McCulloch, 1908: 41, pl. 8, fig 1 (in part, regarded wilsoni as a junior synonym, and included a specimen of H. longicauda). Scott, 1967: 194 (Tasmania). Whitley, 1964: 54.
Heteroclinus heptaeolus.— Rennis, Hoese & Gomon, 1994: 756 (Seal Rocks, New South Wales to Perth, Western Australia); Hoese, Gomon & Rennis 2008: 707 (New South Wales to Western Australia). Kuiter, 1993: 327 (habitat information); Gunn & Thresher, 1994: 323 (embryos and larvae); Kuiter & Kuiter, 2018: (Seal Rocks, New South Wales to Western Australia)
Holotype. AMS B.6699, 70.8 mm SL female, Port Jackson, New South Wales.
Other Material. Unknown location: AMS I.24303-001, 1(50). New South Wales: AMS I.18556-007, Mullimburra, 36°00’S, 150°10’E; AMS I.8013, 1(67), Long Bay, Sydney, 33°58’S, 151°15’E; AMS I.8014, 1(57), Long Bay, Sydney, 33°58’S, 151°15’E; AMS I.13715, 2(88–93), Narooma, 36°13’S, 150°09’E; AMS I.13716, 2(49– 77), Narooma, 36°13’S, 150°09’E; AMS I.15330-010, 1(75), Chinamans Beach, Jervis Bay, 35°01’S, 150°46’E; AMS I.15892-014, 1(53), Long Reef, Sydney, 33°45’S, 151°19’E; AMS I.15912-037, 2(72–90), Cabbage Tree Point, Jervis Bay, 35°01’S, 150°46’E; AMS I.16018-029, 1(48), Seal Rocks, 32°23’S, 152°28’E; AMS I.16237- 029, 1(55), Long Reef, Sydney, 33°45’S, 151°19’E; AMS I.16849-019, 12(27–70), Murrays Head, Jervis Bay, 35°08’S, 150°45’E; AMS I.16849-020, 5(31–82), Murrays Head, Jervis Bay, 35°08’S, 150°45’E; AMS I.16850- 021, 2(26–30), Murrays Head, Jervis Bay, 35°08’S, 150°45’E; AMS I.16851-025, 6(40–70), SW of Bowen Is., Jervis Bay, 35°07’S, 150°46’E; AMS I.16912-001, 1(65), Maroubra, Sydney, 34°02’S, 151°15’E; AMS I.16970- 011, 1(61), Nullica Bay, Boydtown, 37°06’S, 149°53’E; AMS I.17746-002, 2(35–90), North Bondi Beach, Sydney, 33°53’S, 151°17’E; AMS I.18336-003, 1(90), Bondi, Sydney, 33°53’S, 151°17’E; AMS I.18559-005, 2(18–69), Robe, 35°48’S, 150°14’E; AMS I.19103-013, 1(60), Parsley Bay, Sydney Harbour, 33°51’S, 151°16’E; AMS I.19758-005, 5(50–61), Long Bay, Sydney, 33°58’S, 151°16’E; AMS I.19901-041, 1(60), Bottle and Glass Rocks, Nielsen Park, 33°51’S, 151°16’E; AMS I.19930-004, 1(80), Bottle and Glass Rocks, Sydney Harbour, 33°51’S, 151°16’E; AMS I.19943-013, 1(100), West Head, Hawkesbury River, 33°36’S, 151°16’E; AMS I.20095-054, 5(19– 69), Arrawarra Headland, 30°04’S, 153°12’E; AMS I.21335-003, 1(19), Bondi, Sydney, 33°53’S, 151°17’E; AMS I.21774-005, 10(28–88), 4 km south of Batehaven, 35°47’S, 150°13’E; AMS I.24175-002, 1(48), Sydney Harbour, near Quarantine Beach, 33°49’S, 151°17’E; AMS I.24289-001, 6(43–70), North Bondi Beach, Sydney, 33°54’S, 151°17’E; AMS I.24291-001, 1(32), North Bondi Beach, Sydney, 33°54’S, 151°17’E; AMS I.24297-002, 7(43– 79), Bondi Beach, Sydney, 33°54’S, 151°17’E; AMS I.24310-002, 1(18), Sydney, Long Bay, 33°58’S, 151°15’E; AMS I.24317-001, 1(25), Montague Is., 36°15’S, 150°14’E; AMS I.26008-001, 1(13), Twofold Bay, Murrumbulga Point, 37°05’S, 149°54’E; AMS I.26010-001, 1(37), Twofold Bay, Munganno Point, 37°05’S, 149°54’E; AMS I.27706-011, 3(32–47), Bottle and Glass Rocks, Sydney Harbour, 33°51’S, 151°16’E; AMS I.35446-001, 2(15–30), Observation Head, Batemans Bay, 33°44’S, 150°13’E; AMS I. I.45025-046, 1(47), Collers Beach, Mollymook, 35°20’46”S, 150°28’36”E; AMS I.45633-074, 11(14–60) and AMS I.45633-069, 8(44–78), Washerwomans Beach, Bendalong, 35°14’39”S, 150°32’09”E; AMS IA.1738, 1(55), rock pool Near Tuggerah Lakes, 33°19’S, 151°32’E; AMS IB.450, 3(40–56), Ulladulla, 35°21’S, 150°29’E. South Australia: AMS I.17612-003, 4(40–77), Rocky Point, Yorke Peninsula, 35°10’S, 137°41’E; AMS I.17614-005, 1(65), between Tickera and Point Riley, Spencer Gulf, 33°49’S, 137°40’E; AMS I.18470-007, 6(36–75), Robe, 37°10’S, 139°45’E; AMS I.20160-031, 6(48–86), Western River Cove, Kangaroo Is., 35°39’S, 136°58’E; AMS I.20162-019, 9(55–100), Stokes Bay, Kangaroo Is., 35°38’S, 137°12’E; AMS I.20166-003, 4(49–75), Stokes Bay, Kangaroo Is., 35°38’S, 137°13’E; AMS I.20171-023, 4(47–59), Vivonne Bay, Kangaroo Is., 36°00’S, 137°11’E; AMS I.20175-007, 2(38–72), Admirals Arch, Kangaroo Is., 36°04’S, 136°42’E; AMS I.20180-027, 3(61–90), Penneshaw, Kangaroo Is., 35°44’S, 137°58’E; AMS I.20183- 008, 2(56–61), Boxing Bay, Kangaroo Is., 35°35’S, 137°36’E; AMS I.20188-006, 1(57), Penneshaw, Kangaroo Is., 35°44’S, 137°58’E; AMS I.24225-001, 1(51), Western River Cove, Kangaroo Is., 26°18’S, 113°30’E; AMS I.24288- 003, 8(53–98), Black Head, Nadgee Nature Reserve, 37°26’26”S, 149°58’22”E; AMS I.24300-001, 1(38), specific locality unknown; SAM F.1534, 1(68), St. Vincents Gulf, 35°10’S, 137°55’E; SAM F.2580, 2(42–45), Flinders Is., 33°43’S, 134°31’E; SAM F.5066, 2(29–54), The Rapids near Carpenters Rocks, 37°54’S, 140°22’E; SAM F.5067, 3(51–64), Cape Elizabeth, Yorke Peninsula, 34°08’S, 137°27’E; SAM F.962, 5(29–63), Kangaroo Is., 35°50’S, 137°10’E; WAM P.27141-008, 2(50–64), Point Jones, 25 km SE of Ceduna, 32°08’S, 133°41’E; Tasmania: AMS I.17543-002, 4(53–84), Boat Harbour, 40°56’S, 145°38’E; AMS I.17545-004, 7(15–67), Eaglehawk Neck, 43°2’S, 147°56’E; AMS I.17551-005, 2(53–60), Rock Pier, Port Arthur, 43°9’S, 147°51’E; AMS I.17555-005, 2(60–93), The Gardens, 41°13’S, 148°13’E; AMS I.17556-005, 1(17), Granville Harbour, 41°48’S, 145°00’E; AMS I.17571-004, 1(65), Bicheno, 41°53’S, 148°18’E; AMS I.17576-002, 2(58–61), The Gardens, 48°12’S, 148°12’E; AMS I.17586- 003, 1(58), Boat Harbour, 40°56’S, 145°38’E; AMS I.20081-003, 5(20–73), Trial Harbour, 41°56’S, 145°11’E; AMS I.24227-001, 1(32), Eaglehawk Neck, Pirates Bay, 43°01’S, 147°56’E; AMS I.24228-001, 1(40), Deal Is., East Cove, 39°29’S, 147°21’E; AMS I.24601-001, 1(36), Tinder Box Bay, south of Hobart, 43°03’S, 147°20’E; CSIRO T.1528, 15(22–76), West Point, Marrawah, 40°55’S, 144°42’E; CSIRO T.1537, 3(31–76), Island of the Dead, Port Arthur, 43°09’S, 147°51’E; CSIRO T.85, 1(41), Great Oyster Bay, 42°15’S, 148°10’E; CSIRO T.88, 1(39), Sea Elephant Reef, King Is., 39°48’’S, 144°11’E; NMV A.23591, 1(70), Cape Barron Is., 40°24’S, 147°59’E; TM D.694, 1(59), Middleton, 43°14’S, 147°15’E; USNM 211882, 2 (53–77), Coles Bay; USNM 216340, 1 (39), Greens Beach, 41°04’55”S, 146°45’18”E; USNM 216342, 2 (31–65), Greens Beach, 41°04’55”S, 146°45’18”E; WAM P.27549-009, 2(31–65), Port Arthur, 43°09’S, 147°51’E; WAM P.27549-010, 1(28), Port Arthur, 43°09’S, 147°51’E; WAM P.27552-013, 8(19–70), Meredith Point, Orford, Port Arthur, 42°34`S, 147°52`E; WAM P.27559- 025, 7(12–68), St. Helens Point, 41°16’S, 148°22’E; WAM P.27562-012, 15(20–61), 2 km. west of Waterhouse Point, 40°49`S, 147°41`E; WAM P.27567-006, 7(28–68), east of Boat Harbour beach, 41°31’S, 146°16’E; WAM P.27569- 015, 1(20), Point Home, 42°33’S, 147°57’E; WAM P.27569-015, 4(22–33), Rocky Cape, 40°51’S, 145°31’E; WAM P.27574-009, 11(21–80), Marrawah, 40°55’S, 144°42’E; WAM P.27576-009, 2(26–29), Granville Harbour, 41°49’S, 145°01’E; WAM P.27577-013, 11(30–66), Greens Beach, 2 km north of, 41°05;S, 146°45’E; WAM P.27579- 003, 2(31–37), Low Head, 41°04’S, 146°48’E; WAM P.27580-021, 4(30–64), Low Head, 41°04’S, 146°48’E; Victoria: AMS I.16976-007, 2(65–66), Walkerville South, Waratah Bay, 38°51’S, 146°02’E; AMS I.16979-012, 1(24), Walkerville South, Waratah Bay, 38°51’S, 146°02’E; AMS I.16980-021, 3(26–88), Bells Beach, 38°09’S, 144°25’E; AMS I.16981-010, 14(20–85), Bells Beach, 38°09’S, 144°25’E; AMS I.16982-009, 1(57), Bells Beach, 38°09’S, 144°25’E; AMS I.16983-014, 3(30–72), 8 KM SW of Anglesea, 38°24’S, 144°13’E; AMS I.16984-010, 1(70), 8 KM SW of Anglesea, 38°24’S, 144°13’E; AMS I.16988-011, 1(65), Childrens Cove, 38°24’S, 142°28’E; AMS I.19759-004, 1(53), Sorrento, Port Phillip Bay, 38°20’S, 144°45’E; AMS I.24295-001, 1(67); NMV A.17177, 14(13–67), Sandringham, Port Phillip Bay; NMV A.29368-1, 1(78), Portland; QVM 1962/5/4, 2(44–52), Greens Beach, 41°05’’S, 146°45’E; WAM P.27129-007, 3(25–62), Point Franklin, E of Cape Otway, 38°52’S, 143°31’E; WAM P.27132-009, 1(18), Flatrocks, Cape Nelson, 38°26’S, 144°33’E; Western Australia: AMS I.15731-003, 4(67–72), Point Peron, 32°16’S, 115°40’E; AMS I.43589-002, 1(26), Cowaramup Bay, 33°52’S, 114°59’E; WAM P.6201-001, 1(37), Lancelin Is., 31°01`S, 115°1’E; WAM P.19222-001, 2(69–76), Perth area; WAM P.25195-002, 5(31–72), Cape Naturaliste, 33°32`S, 115°02`E; WAM P.27959-017, 1(64), Kalbarri, off mouth of Murchison River, 27°42’S, 114°12’E, 7 m (tentative identification).
Diagnosis. Dorsal fins III, XXV–XXVIII, 3; anal fin II, l8–2l (usually 19–20); pectoral rays 11–12 (usually 12); gill rakers on outer face of first arch 1 – 4+4–8 = 6–10 (rarely 10); circumorbital head pores uniserial (14–20 pores); orbital tentacle short, broad, round, sometimes weakly lobed, about twice as long as wide; nasal tentacle entire to weakly lobed; middle gill rakers and uppermost rakers on outer face of first arch not branched dorsally; second dorsal spine relatively low (6.9–11.5% SL, not showing significant change with size); fin originating over middle to near posterior end of preoperculum; third dorsal spine slightly in front of a vertical from pelvic origin; last spine of first dorsal fin usually connected by membrane to base of second dorsal fin, last ray connected by membrane to base of caudal fin; body moderately slender (depth at anal origin 17.7–30.9% SL), increasingly significantly with size; 17.7–24.8% SL in specimens less than 40 mm SL, 22.6–29.5% SL in specimens 40–80 mm SL and 24.8–30.9% SL in specimens greater than 80 mm SL. Head and body with 6–7 dark brown to black bars on back extending onto dorsal fin, spaces between darks bars largely transparent, with small, scattered, dark brown to black spots; midside of body with oval to vertically elongate bars directly below dark patches on back, windows on dorsal fin containing usually 2–4 spines; anal fin with 7–8 dark brown bars with pale windows; above anal fin usually uniformly brown; rarely head and body uniformly reddish-brown; a silver to white bar with brown margins radiating backward from eye, usually slightly oblique, sloping downward posteriorly.
Description. Based on over 160 specimens 14–103 mm SL, data taken on 64 males, 77 females, 15 not sexed. First dorsal III* (154); dorsal rays 3*(153), 4(1); pelvic rays I,3* (149); caudal rays 9(48), 10*(120), 11(8), 12(12); vertebrae 14+27(5), 14+28(12); lower gill rakers on outer face of first arch 4(1), 5(17), 6*(97), 7(27), 8(2); circumorbital head pores uniserial (14–20 pores, usually 16–19); pored lateral line scales 20–26 (arched portion of line) + 21–31 (straight portion of line); anterior lateral line scales 20(6), 21(16), 22(39), 23(25), 24(25), 25*(4), 26(4); posterior lateral line scales 21(1), 22(3), 23(6), 24(2), 25*(17), 26(17), 27(23), 28(26), 29(13), 30(8), 31(1); total lateral line scales 44(1), 45(3), 46(9), 47(19), 48(11), 49(24), 50*(19), 51(21), 52(12), 53(1), 54(3), 55(1); branchiostegal rays 6*(9); other counts shown in Tables 1–5. Vomer with conical teeth arranged in an inverted V, 1–2 rows in specimens less than 45 mm SL and 2–3 rows in larger specimens; palatine without teeth.
Head and body laterally compressed; head moderate, length as proportion decreasing significantly with increasing size, size (21.5–27.5% SL in adults, 23.6–31.1% SL in juveniles less than 40 mm SL); snout gently curved in side view, snout shorter than eye diameter (0.5–0.8 of eye length), (2.9–6.6% SL), proportion not changing significantly with size; eye moderate, relative size decreasing with growth (7.8.4–9.5% SL in specimens less than 40 mm SL, 6.6–7.8% SL in specimens 44–65 mm SL, 5.1–6.4% SL in specimens 68–99 mm SL); interorbital narrow, about one-half to two thirds eye of diameter; mouth small, jaws reaching to below anterior edge of eye to middle of pupil, upper jaw length 6.6–9.9% SL, with no significant change with size detected; anterior nostril at end of short tube, with short spatulate nasal tentacle expanding distally, rarely with two small lobes distally; posterior nostril with elevated rim above anterior margin of eye; gill rakers on outer face of first arch, short, much shorter than filaments; rakers on inner face of first arch and following arches becoming progressively shorter and pointed; tongue tip broadly pointed; upper jaw with 4–5 rows of slightly incisiform teeth (slightly compressed), teeth in outer row largest with pointed tips, without basal lateral cusps, teeth becoming more conical, smaller and pointed in inner rows, rows teeth tapering to one to two rows near end of jaw; teeth in lower jaw incisiform (slightly compressed) to conical without lateral cusps.
Genital valve composed with smooth to rugose distal margin, fully covering genital opening in females. Intromittent organ pointed, without lateral lobes.
Head pores as shown in Figure 6; circumorbital and preopercular pores uniserial.
Head largely naked; body scales small and cycloid extending forward to above operculum below second dorsal spine to first dorsal fin origin; scales cycloid overlapping and forming distinct rows, becoming scattered and nonimbricate on caudal peduncle; pectoral fin base covered with small scales, scales extending onto base of fin to a maximum of basal one-fifth length of rays; scales covering bases of some dorsal spines in 1–2 rows, often also found on membranes between spines, not extending onto rays of dorsal fins; scales not extending onto anal fin or onto base of caudal rays; lateral line scales extending to caudal peduncle, anterior scales overlapping with one median posterior pore, posterior scales separate with a median pore at each end.
All fin-rays unbranched; first dorsal fin origin above midway between posterior preopercular margin and eye and posterior preopercular margin; fin elevated, with second spine longest, fin higher than second dorsal fin; second spine usually longest, with first and third spines subequal in height; membrane from first dorsal fin connects to or just above base of second dorsal fin; second dorsal origin above a point just before pectoral origin and behind pelvic insertion; first spine of second dorsal slightly shorter than following spine and spines becoming progressively longer posteriorly, with last spine the longest; last two dorsal rays shorter than first ray and widely separated from anterior ray; anal origin below 9 th to 11 th spine of second dorsal fin, two anal spines slightly shorter than rays; last anal ray connected along basal half of ray by membrane slightly before to slightly behind middle of caudal peduncle; posterior rays becoming progressively longer, last two rays shorter, slightly closely spaced and usually widely separate from anterior rays; pectoral fin with rounded posterior margin, central rays longest, reaching to above or just before anus, not reaching to above anal fin; pelvic fins with hidden spine, 3 developed rays; innermost ray about half to slightly less than half length of other two rays; caudal fin with truncate to slightly rounded posterior margin (14.9–20.0% SL, not showing significant change with size); caudal fin with 10 thickened rays and an upper and a lower smaller ray, rarely segmented, 3–5 upper and lower very short procurrent simple rays difficult to discern.
Coloration of freshly collected material (Plates 2 and 3). Head and body reddish brown or greenish brown, usually with 7–8 broad brownish to red bands on trunk and tail forming saddles on back and extending onto dorsal and anal fins, bands usually irregularly shaped, often interrupted by pale pigment, resulting in the band divided into 3 parts, one near base of dorsal fin, one on midside and one above anal fin, bands usually not extending onto belly, first band below first dorsal fin ending ventrally at upper opercular margin, 6 bands below dorsal fin and sometimes one on caudal peduncle; dark bands narrower than spaces between bands; spaces between dark bands dorsally with light brown to yellowish spots, ventrally lighter brown than bands and a few scattered light yellowish spots; rarely head and body uniformly brown to reddish brown, with few or no any distinct markings (Plate 3B, 3C);a white to light crescent-shaped bar on upper pectoral fin base; head mottled sometimes with short, brown, oblique bars radiating from posterior part of eye and a single silver or white bar usually extending slightly oblique, sloping downward posteriorly; second dorsal and anal fins with clear windows between dark blotches, 2 or 3 spines in windows largely without pigment and a few dark brown blotches; first dorsal fin dark; anal fin with windows similar to those on dorsal fin, except windows slightly narrower usually extending over 2 anal rays; other fins with a series of dark spots forming transverse bands; pectoral fin uniformly brown or with alternating curved black and white bars; caudal fin with scattered dark mottling, sometimes forming irregular bands.
Live coloration (Plate 3D). Similar to freshly collected coloration, except that bands more contrasted against paler background.
Coloration in alcohol. Head and body uniformly light brown, without distinct marking, dorsal membranes without clear windows, except for after first ray and after last ray.
Distribution. The species is known from Arrawarra in northern New South Wales to Lancelin Island and possibly as far north as Kalbarri in Western Australia and throughout coastal Tasmania. The species is associated with brown or green algae on rock faces around rocky reefs (Kuiter 1993). We observed the fish mainly in brown algae and sometimes in green algae (Caulerpa sp.) to depths of 15 m.
Etymology. The derivation was not given. However, the author noted seven dark spots on the back, suggesting the Greek hepta = seven + aeolos = variegated.
Remarks. Regression analyses (Table 7) indicated a y-intercept, significantly different from 0 for head length (p = 0.015), predorsal length (p <0.001), body depth at anal origin (p <0.001), eye length (p <0.001), last dorsal spine length (p = 0.018) and first dorsal ray length (p = 0.015). Rank correlation indicated all characters decreased significantly with size, except for body depth at anal origin which increased.Characters where the regression analyses showed a y-intercept not significant different from 0, also showed no significant values for the rank correlation of the proportions tested with Kendall’s Tau, but those with a significant difference from 0 showed a significant change with size when tested with Kendall’s Tau.
McCulloch (1908) included a figured specimen of this species. He listed several specimens, one which is H. longicauda. Not all of the material mentioned in that publication has been found and it is possible that he might have included H. whitleyi in his description.
The species reaches a length of at least 100 mm SL and is easily confused with H. whitleyi. See Remarks section under that species.
The Australian Standard Name for the species is Ogilby’s Weedfish. Other common names that have been used include Common Weedfish, Seven-bar Weedfish, Seven-barred Weedfish.
One specimen, WAM P.27959-017, 64 mm SL is from Kalbarri, off the mouth of Murchison River, 27°42’S, 114°12’E, 7 m, is farther north than others in the complex from Western Australia. The narrow band below the base of the dorsal fin and lack of clear windows in the dorsal and anal fins is suggestive of H. heptaeolus, but with counts in the overlap region between H. heptaeolus and H. whitleyi. The other specimen part of AMS I.21774-005 from Batehaven, NSW has dorsal and anal ray counts of H. heptaeolus. Tentatively we treat both as H. heptaeolus.
description: Published as part of Hoese, Douglass F., Hay, Amanda & Dibattista, Joseph D., 2024, A review of the Heteroclinus heptaeolus complex (Pisces: Blennioidei: Clinidae), with three new species and discussion of use of proportions in taxonomic studies, pp. 301-348 in Zootaxa 5432 (3) on pages 312-320, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5432.3.1, http://zenodo.org/record/10906573