The Northern Clingfish: A Master of Camouflage

selim12 February 22, 2024 0 Comments

The northern clingfish Scientifically known by Gobiesox maeandricus is a species of saltwater fish. It belongs to the family Gobiesocidae.

Table of Contents

Northern Clingfish History:

It was first described by Charles Frédéric Girard in 1858 from specimens collected at San Luis Obispo in California. He originally named it Lepadogaster reticulatus in 1854 but the name was preoccupied.

Northern Clingfish Habitat:

This fish is found in the intertidal zone climbing the rocky shore. It’s native to Revillagigedo Island and Baja California north to southeastern Alaska living below low and high tides in depths of up to 12 meters.

Appearance And Size:

It has a flat head with a thin tail. The two yellowish eyes are far apart from the head. It has a sucker disc around the pelvic fins. The skin color is olive brown with a smooth surface with red, gray, or yellow spots. Pectoral fins are located behind the dorsal fin. It can grow to 17 cm. They also have white bars between the eyes. They don’t have scales.

Diet:

It eats what is found on rocky shores, but the preferred menu here is crustaceans like shrimp, isopods, limpets, and small mollusks. It can also be a cannibal feeder hunting their own kind.

Behavior And LifeSpan:

This fish is an aggressive feeder hunting prey on tight spaces on rocky shores with its mouth open and suction disk makes it stable on rocks. It will bite anything in its way. It can also change its color to blend with its surroundings. They are also capable of breathing air when they are out of water.

Northern Clingfish Reproduction And Lifecycle:

The male squirts his sperm with the female’s eggs (external fertilization). Then the mother lays the eggs under a rock that she thinks is safe. After hatching, the larvae clingfish start as platonic larvae. The male protects the babies at first although they are staying near the rocks.

Predators Of The Norther Clingfish:

Although it’s a good hunter and great hider, this fish is still threatened by raccoons and gulls who flip them over on the rocky shore when the chance is present.

Conservation Status And Threats:

This fish is still at risk from rocky shore pollution like oil spills and agriculture runoff. Humans are careless when it comes to rocky shore protection which can affect the northern clingfish habitat.