Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 30, 2026

Smithichthys fucorum

The leafy klipfish is a species of clinid found along the coast of South Africa from Cape Point to the Bashee River. Its preferred habitat is amongst seaweed in the subtidal zone. It can reach a maximum total length of 30 cm (12 in). It is currently the only known member of its genus. The generic name honours the South African ichthyologist J.L.B. Smith (1897–1968), while the specific name means belonging to the brown seaweed genus Fucus, a reference to its habitat, colouring, and form.

Last revised
Jul 30, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
234 w
Citations
3
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Smithichthys fucorum
(a) Lateral view, male, 101 mm, St. James, 16/5/1965, S.A.M.; (b) Head pore system; (c) Intromittent organ of male; (d) Lateral line
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Blenniiformes
Family: Clinidae
Genus: Smithichthys
C. Hubbs, 1952
Species:
S. fucorum
Binomial name
Smithichthys fucorum
Synonyms
  • Clinus fucorum (Gilchrist & W. W. Thompson, 1908)
  • Myxodes fucorum (Gilchrist & W. W. Thompson, 1908)
  • Pavoclinus fucorum (Gilchrist & W. W. Thompson, 1908)

The leafy klipfish (Smithichthys fucorum) is a species of clinid found along the coast of South Africa from Cape Point to the Bashee River. Its preferred habitat is amongst seaweed in the subtidal zone. It can reach a maximum total length of 30 cm (12 in). It is currently the only known member of its genus.2 The generic name honours the South African ichthyologist J.L.B. Smith (1897–1968), while the specific name means belonging to the brown seaweed genus Fucus, a reference to its habitat, colouring, and form.3

References

References

  1. Holleman, W.; Clements, K.D.; Williams, J.T. (2014). "Smithichthys fucorum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014 e.T179083A1567670. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T179083A1567670.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Smithichthys fucorum". FishBase. April 2013 version.
  3. Christopher Scharpf; Kenneth J. Lazara (10 November 2018). "Order BLENNIIFORMES: Families CLINIDAE, LABRISOMIDAE and CHAENOPSIDAE". ETYFish Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 24 April 2019.