Clingfish - Gobiesocidae
CLINGFISH - GOBIESOCIDAE These small and slender fish can be found living alone between coral branches, the spines of sea urchins and under the protection of the moveable arms of feather stars. Most of the species are found in colder and temperate seas. Only a few can be found in tropical waters. They feed on zooplankton and small invertebrates. Their pelvic fins have changed into a sucking disc which they use for holding themselves on to rocks, seagrass and invertebrates. Clingfish only have a dorsal fin around the tail base. Length: 3 cm. Distribution: from S- Japan and Indonesia to Micronesia and Great Barrier Reef. Ground colour and intensity of stripes variable according the colour of their host. Mostly found between the arms of crinoids(featherstars), up to a depth of -20 m. Lives solitary or in pairs. They are scaleless, their pelvic fins transformed into a sucking disc. Length: 5 cm. Distribution: from Oman to S- Japan, Papua New Guinea and Caledonia. This is a free swimming species which is mostly found in holes, between coral cracks, sea urchins and sea grass. Colour goes from red to red-brown or purplish. Elongate body and long snout, yellow blotch on tailfin and 3 yellow to white lines on back. Lives solitary on reefs or sandy substrate, from -2 to -30 m. Feeds on zooplankton.
Clingfish info

Clingfish info

Diademichthys  lineatus - Urchin clingfish

Diademichthys lineatus - Urchin clingfish

Discotrema crinophilum - Crinoid clingfish

Discotrema crinophilum - Crinoid clingfish

Lepadichthys lineatus - Doubleline clingfish

Lepadichthys lineatus - Doubleline clingfish