Evidence of multiple paternity in the bluntnose klipfish, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Clinus cottoides</Emphasis> (Blennioidei: Clinidae: Clinini)

Clinids of the tribe Clinini are viviparous fishes occurring in the temperate waters of southern Africa. Females of the genus Clinus exhibit reproductive traits suggesting multiple paternity. These traits include prolonged gestation periods, matrotrophy and superfetation. We tested the hypothesis that broods of the species C. cottoides are sired by multiple males with the use of microsatellites. We genotyped three broods from known mothers and analysed the relationships within each brood using the software program COLONY, we also used allele counting to find evidence of multiple paternity. Our results revealed that multiple paternity occurred in all three broods analysed; two broods likely had two sires and one brood three sires. One male appear to have fathered offspring with separate females. Our study represents the first molecular analysis of parentage in C. cottoides.