Redfingers
(Cheilodactylus fasciatus)
Image source: Jo's Animal Database
General data
The redfingers has body which is oval in shape, with a depth that fits into its standard length 3.2 to 3.7 times. It has a small mouth, pointed snout and a slightly concave breast.
The dorsal fin has 17-19 spines and 23-25 soft rays while the anal fin contains3 spines and 9-11 soft rays. The pectoral fins have 14 rays with the lower 4-5 rays enlarged] and red in colour.
This species attains a maximum total length of 30 cm (12 in).
There are four wide reddish-brown stripes on lower flanks and five quadrangular marks on the upper flanks which line up with the stripes on the rear of body. The head covered with rectangular spots and dashes and the caudal fin has diagonal brown stripes.
The redfingers is endemic to the waters of southern Africa occurring in both the southeastern Atlantic Ocean and the southwestern Indian Ocean. Its range extends from Swakopmund in Namibia to northern KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. They are typically found at depths down to 25 m (82 ft), although they are occasionally recorded as deep as 120 m (390 ft). It is found in rocky areas, especially reefs, while the juveniles are commonly found in tidal pools.
