Fishes: Gobiesocidae

Sunday, 22 July 2012

Gobiesocidae

Clingfishes are fishes of the family Gobiesocidae. Most species are marine, being found in shallow waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. They are bottom-dwelling fishes; some species shelter in sea urchins or crinoids.Clingfishes are typically small fish, with most species less than 6 centimetres (2.4 in) in length. They have tapering bodies with a single dorsal fin, and flattened heads. In most species the pelvic fins are modified into a sucking disc. The lateral line is well developed, but may not extend to the posterior parts of the body.The skin of clingfishes is smooth and scale-less, with a thick layer of protective mucus. They have a cryptic colouration, and in some cases can rapidly change colour to match their background.The classification of the clingfishes varies. FishBase places Gobiescoidae as the only family in the order Gobiesociformes, under the superorder Paracanthopterygii whereas more official classifications within the United States, for example ITIS, place them in the suborder Gobiesocoidei of the order Perciformes, under superorder Acanthopterygii. ITIS lists Gobiesociformes as invalid and has been verified by the standards set forth by ITIS