Northern clingfish (Gobiesox maeandricus)

Scientific name: Gobiesox maeandricus Girard, 1858

The Northern clingfish (Gobiesox maeandricus) is a marine fish of the family Gobiesocidae. Native range: Eastern Pacific, Revillagigedo Island, southeastern Alaska to southern California, USA; also off Baja California, Mexico.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-16; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 12 - 14. Caudal fin well rounded; pectorals short and broad, a fleshy pulp between the base of the fin and the gill opening; pelvic fins united anteriorly by a papillose membrane, the rays are flexible and support the lateral rim of a prominent adhesive disc; the disc is completed posteriorly by a broad fringed fold of skin on the lower part of the body, and is separated from the pelvic fins by a deep notch. Light olive brown to cherry red, reticulated with darker or mottled with light shades; dark radiating lines from eyes and joining the eyes through a series of reticulations; white bars between eyes and in young across back and on edge of caudal fin.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Gobiesox maeandricus
Family: Gobiesocidae (Clingfishes and singleslits)
Order: Gobiesociformes (Clingfishes)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 16.0
Depth range: 8 m (26 ft)
Environment: Marine; demersal; depth range ? - 8 m
Climate: Subtropical
Distribution: Eastern Pacific: Revillagigedo Island, southeastern Alaska to southern California, USA; also off Baja California, Mexico.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Aquarium: public aquariums
Resilience: Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Annual fecundity = 382)