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Kelp clingfish (Rimicola muscarum) — Gobiesocidae

Kelp clingfish

Rimicola muscarum
Family: Gobiesocidae

The Kelp clingfish (Rimicola muscarum) is a saltwater fish of the family Gobiesocidae that grows up to 7 cm.

Length
7 cm
Water
Saltwater
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless

Description

The kelp clingfish is a tiny clingfish (Gobiesocidae) from kelp forests and tide pools of the eastern Pacific. The species grows to about 4 cm and has a slender, scaleless, green to brown body matching the kelp blades it lives on, and a powerful sucker disc on the belly formed from the pelvic fins. With it it clamps onto weed and stones in the surf. It snaps at minute crustaceans and other invertebrates. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Kelp clingfish?

The Kelp clingfish has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly green.

Where does the Kelp clingfish live?

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

How big does the Kelp clingfish get?

The Kelp clingfish grows to a maximum of about 7 cm.

Is the Kelp clingfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Kelp clingfish is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Kelp-zuigvis sourced
English name
Kelp clingfish sourced
Scientific name
Rimicola muscarum
Family
Gobiesocidae
Other names
Kelp clingfish; Slender cling-fish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
7.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Green sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
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

Same genus Rimicola

More from the family Gobiesocidae

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