Chirodactylus brachydactylus

Two tone fingerfin | Two-tone Fingerfin
Chirodactylus brachydactylus
Chirodactylus brachydactylus, Cape Town, South Africa, Photo: Graham Edgar

Distribution

Temperate Africa


Description

Tan back grading to a pale underside, tan upper head abruptly becoming pale below eye, large tan lips, translucent yellow pectoral fin with a red base and white spots evenly spaced along lateral line. Back some times has broad oblique bars.


Information

Max Size: 40 cm

Sea Temperature Range: 14.9-24.1°C

Depth: 0-240m

Habitat Generalization Index: N/A

Also referred to as the SGI (Species Generalisation Index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species. Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here.


Conservation and Rarity

IUCN Status: Not Evaluated

Occurrence: Widespread (100% of sites)

Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed

Abundance: Many (19 per transect)

Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.


Edit by: Joe Shields