clingfish

clingfish
/kling"fish'/, n., pl. (esp. collectively) clingfish, (esp. referring to two or more kinds or species) clingfishes.
any fish of the family Gobiesocidae, having a sucking disk on the abdomen for clinging to stones, debris, etc.
[1890-95; CLING1 + FISH]

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▪ fish family
      any of more than 150 species of small fishes of the family Gobiesocidae (order Perciformes). Clingfishes are characterized by a strong suction disk located on the undersurface and formed by the pelvic fins and adjacent folds of flesh. They are scaleless fishes and have wide, flattened heads. Most species are about 7.5 cm (3 inches) or less in length, though the South African Chorisochismus dentex is up to 30 cm (12 inches) long. Some of the tropical American clingfishes of the genus Gobiesox live in rapid streams, but most clingfishes inhabit the sea. Many inhabit the intertidal zone and maintain a hold on the bottom with the sucking disk, whereas others live on coral reefs.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • clingfish — n. very small (to 3 inches) flattened marine fish with a sucking disc on the abdomen for clinging to rocks etc. [WordNet 1.5] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • clingfish — [kliŋ′fish΄] n. pl. clingfish or clingfishes (see FISH) any of an order (Gobiesociformes) of small, marine bony fishes having a sucking disc on the ventral surface near the head, with which they cling to rocks, etc …   English World dictionary

  • clingfish — /ˈklɪŋfɪʃ/ (say klingfish) noun (plural clingfish or clingfishes) any fish of the family Gobiesocidae, all of which have a ventral sucking disc constructed from the pectoral as well as the pelvic fins; the disc is used to adhere tightly to rocks …  

  • clingfish — noun A small marine fish of the family Gobiesocidae which has a sucking disc on its underside that it uses to cling to rocks and seaweed …   Wiktionary

  • clingfish — n. tiny marine fish that have a sucking disk on the abdomen by which they cling to rocks and seaweed …   English contemporary dictionary

  • clingfish — noun (plural same or clingfishes) a small fish with a sucker for attachment to rocks and other surfaces. [Lepadogaster lepadogaster and other species.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • clingfish — noun very small (to 3 inches) flattened marine fish with a sucking disc on the abdomen for clinging to rocks etc. • Hypernyms: ↑percoid fish, ↑percoid, ↑percoidean • Hyponyms: ↑skillet fish, ↑skilletfish, ↑Gobiesox strumosus …   Useful english dictionary

  • Striped clingfish — Taxobox | name = Striped clingfish regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Actinopterygii ordo = Gobiesociformes familia = Gobiesocidae subfamily = Gobiesocinae genus = Trachelochismus species = T. melobesia binomial = Trachelochismus… …   Wikipedia

  • Kuiter's deepsea clingfish — Taxobox name = Kuiter s deepsea clingfish regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Actinopterygii ordo = Gobiesociformes familia = Gobiesocidae genus = Kopua species = K. kuiteri binomial = Kopua kuiteri binomial authority = Hutchins,… …   Wikipedia

  • Hector's clingfish — Taxobox name = Hector s clingfish regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Actinopterygii ordo = Gobiesociformes familia = Gobiesocidae genus = Gastroscyphus genus authority = Briggs, 1955 species = G. hectoris binomial = Gastroscyphus… …   Wikipedia

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