Clingfishes

Gobiesocidae

Clingfishes belong to the family Gobiesocidae, which is the sole family within the order Gobiesociformes. These fishes, ranging from small to very small in size, have a wide distribution across tropical and temperate regions. While most species are primarily found near coastal areas, a few can be found in deeper seas or fresh water environments. These fishes typically seek shelter in shallow reefs or seagrass beds, where they cling to rocks, algae, and seagrass leaves using their sucking disc—a specialized structure located on their chest.