Fish
Two-tone Fingerfin
Chirodactylus brachydactylus
A neatly two-toned reef fish, dark above and pale below with a bright silver streak dividing the two, common on Cape rocky reefs.
Also known as butterfish, steen
- Habitat
- Rocky reef
The two-tone fingerfin is well named: the head and front of the body are dark on top, sharply cut off from the paler underside by a distinct silver streak. Like others in its family it has thickened, finger-like lower pectoral rays used to feel over the reef.
It is a resident of rocky reefs, picking small invertebrates from the bottom and holding close to structure. Divers see it readily in the cool, kelp-fringed reefs it favours.