Cape Klipfish

The body is slightly compressed. The head is short with a shallow transverse depression behind the eyes, the snout is obtuse and slightly pointed with fairly thin lips. There is a prominent and well developed tentacle above the top rear of each eye formed by a broad flat stalk and round, flattened tip ending in several simple branches; the prominent cirri on the front nostrils are elongate, flat, and narrow, with slightly indented margin. The first 3 dorsal spines form a low crest and are separated from the rest of the fin by a deep notch, with the membrane connected to the base of the 4th spine. The soft rays are higher than the spines. All dorsal spines have cirri at their tips, the front spines each carry a group of 4 to 6 short cirri followed by 2-3 cirri per spine and then 1 cirrus each for those furthest back. Pectoral fin rounded. The ventral 3rd rays are very small. Caudal peduncle short. The caudal fin is rounded. This fish is more robust than equally sized individuals of C. superciliosus or C. venustris, with a much wider head. The very prominent supraorbital tentacles and cirrus on anterior nostril, and the shape of the dorsal fin are diagnostic. The dorsal fin has a slight crest formed by the first three spines, a notch of variable depth, but generally present, and the membrane between the subsequent few spines is also somewhat notched. …

This species ranges from Lambert's Bay to False Bay, almost exclusively in weed-beds. The yellowish colour form has been found on walls covered with yellow hydroids of various species, especially the more bushy ones. The fish does not lie prominently on the outer branches, nor in the spaces formed by the planar hydroid Sertularella arbuscula, but rather underneath it. It relies on camouflage and does not readily flee.

The Latin word 'brevicristatus' (brevi, from brevis) means short, and cristatus (crested, also a Latin word) refers to the low dorsal fin crest.