#gobiesocidae

[terranlifeform]

Clingfish (Gobiesox sp.) hiding within the folds of a red-rust bryozoan (Watersipora subtorquata) off the coast of California, U.S.

Douglas Klug

[sitting-on-me-bum]

Gobiesocidae

Photographer: Lawson Wood

[oceansoftheworld]

Photo by Chelsea Haebich | Info

The Western Cleaner Clingfish (Cochleoceps bicolor) is a species of clingfish from the family Gobiesocidae which is endemic to southern Australia. This species has a ground coloration which varies from yellowish to reddish marked with regular transverse blue bands along its back and a bluish-grey caudal fin. This species occurs on rocky reefs and jetty or pier piles, where they establish cleaning stations, often over sponges and ascidians, but are known to use a wide variety of reef related sites as stations, perhaps the most important criterion being the prominent visibility of a site to passing parasite laden clients.

[astronomy-to-zoology]

Tasmanian Clingfish (Aspasmogaster tasmaniensis)

...a species of clingfish found off the coasts of Tasmania and Western and Southern Australia. Like other clingfish the Tasmanian clingfish possesses a sucking disc on its undersurface. It uses this disc to 'cling' onto the bottom so strong waves and currents don't toss it about. Its disc also helps in feeding as well, as once it is connected to a surface it only needs to swing its head around in an arc to feed. Its diet consists mostly of plant matter and small invertebrates.

Phylogeny

Animalia-Chordata-Actinopterygii-Gobiesociformes( or Perciformes)-Gobiesocidae-Aspasmogaster-tasmaniensis

Image(s): Saspotato