Two-tone fingerfin

Biology

This two-toned fish has a row of white spots on each flank. It is a very common species on the South-African coast, that populates pools and tidal canals, but can also live in reefs, up to 240 metres in depth. It feeds on small invertebrates.

Curiosities

The adults have an unusual characteristic: the lower rays of the pectoral fin are narrow and elongated. These rays, in the posterior region, are free and function as appendages. They serve to maintain their balance when the fish is resting, and to detect food.