Notoclinus compressus (Hutton, 1872)
Brown topknot
Brown topknot,  Heratua

Family:  Tripterygiidae (Triplefin blennies), subfamily: Notoclininae
Max. size:  8.5 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 0 - 5 m
Distribution:  Southwest Pacific: New Zealand.
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  Adults are usually found among large brown algae (Carpophyllum and Cystophora). They feed on weed dwelling crustaceans and small fish (Ref. 9003). Eggs are hemispherical and covered with numerous sticky threads that anchor them in the algae on the nesting sites (Ref. 240). Larvae are planktonic which occur primarily in shallow, nearshore waters (Ref. 94114).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 06 May 2010 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:  Specimens collected around the North Island and northeastern South Island (Marlborough Sounds, Canterbury); Stewart I. and Chatham Is. Not recorded from Otago, South-Westland, Fiordland, Southland and Snares Islands. Spawning probably occurs from late spring to early summer (Ref. 9003). Voucher specimen(s) held at the NMNZ (Ref. 5755). Also Ref. 45524.


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