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Tepalcate clingfish (Gobiesox pinniger) — Gobiesocidae

Tepalcate clingfish

Gobiesox pinniger
Family: Gobiesocidae
NE · Not Evaluated

The Tepalcate clingfish (Gobiesox pinniger) is a saltwater fish of the family Gobiesocidae that grows up to 10 cm.

Length
10.2 cm
Water
Saltwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Eastern Pacific
Edibility
Not eaten

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Description

The tepalcate clingfish is a small clingfish from the eastern Pacific, along the coast of Mexico and Central America. The species grows to about 10 cm and has a flattened, tadpole-like body without scales and on the belly a powerful sucking disc formed from the pelvic fins, with which it clings firmly to stones in the surf. As a bottom-dweller of rocky tidal zones it feeds on small crustaceans and molluscs. The fish is harmless to humans and has not been evaluated by the IUCN (NE).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Tepalcate clingfish?

The Tepalcate clingfish has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a marbled pattern. Scaleless body with a powerful ventral sucker to attach to stones

Where does the Tepalcate clingfish live?

The Tepalcate clingfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Eastern Pacific

How big does the Tepalcate clingfish get?

The Tepalcate clingfish grows to a maximum of about 10 cm.

Is the Tepalcate clingfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Tepalcate clingfish is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Tepalcate clingfish edible?

The Tepalcate clingfish is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

English name
Tepalcate clingfish verified
Scientific name
Gobiesox pinniger
Family
Gobiesocidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
10.2 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Marbled sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Natural range
Eastern Pacific verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small crustaceans and molluscs inferred
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
Yes sourced
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Suction-clinging intertidal clingfish; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Scaleless body with a powerful ventral sucker to attach to stones sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Not a target species for angling; at most an incidental catch or usable as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Gobiesox

More from the family Gobiesocidae

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