Ryan Photographic - Gobiesocidae - Clingfishes

Family Gobiesocidae

There are currently 136 species of Gobiesocids in 36 genera (Fishbase). They are found in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans. Normally bottom-dwellers, many of them have pelvic fins which are modified into a sucking disk - rather like most of the gobies. Unlike gobies however they totally lack scales and are covered with a protective mucus. Some members of the family associate with invertebrates - the urchin clingfish below was swimming freely away from any host urchin.

The crinoid clingfishes pose a minor conundrum. They match their host crinoids very well - but how do they know? Do larval crinoid clingfish search out a featherstar of the color they "know" they are going to become or do they develop color to match that of their host? What would happen to a clingfish transferred to a host of different color? Could it change to match - and if so how quickly? Some much to learn - so little time.

Diademichthys lineatus Urchin clingfish

Discotrema crinophila Crinoid clingfish

Gastrocyathus gracilis Slender clingfish

Gastroscyphus hectoris Hector's clingfish

Haplocylix littoreus Giant clingfish (New Zealand)

Trachelochismus melobesia Striped clingfish

Trachelochismus pinnulatus Lumpfish

Fishes

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