Home · Gobiesocidae · Crinoid clingfish
Crinoid clingfish (Discotrema crinophilum) — Gobiesocidae

Crinoid clingfish

Discotrema crinophilum
Family: Gobiesocidae

The Crinoid clingfish (Discotrema crinophilum) is a saltwater fish of the family Gobiesocidae that grows up to 5 cm.

Length
5 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
8.0–20.0 m
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless

Description

The crinoid clingfish is a small clingfish (Gobiesocidae) from the Indo-West Pacific that lives in symbiosis with feather stars (crinoids). The species grows to about 5 cm and has a slender, striped body matching the host's arms and a ventral sucking disc with which it clings on. Among the feather star's arms it shelters from predators and picks small plankton. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Crinoid clingfish?

The Crinoid clingfish has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a horizontal stripes pattern.

Where does the Crinoid clingfish live?

The Crinoid clingfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Crinoid clingfish get?

The Crinoid clingfish grows to a maximum of about 5 cm.

Is the Crinoid clingfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Crinoid clingfish is harmless to humans.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Haarster-schijfzuiger sourced
English name
Crinoid clingfish sourced
Scientific name
Discotrema crinophilum
Family
Gobiesocidae
Other names
Crinoid clingfish; Sea lily clingfish; Three-stripe featherstar clingfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
5.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Horizontal stripes sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
8.0 verified
Max depth (m)
20.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
Yes inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

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

More from the family Gobiesocidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →