New Zealand lumpfish
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| Trachelochismus pinnulatus (Forster, 1801) |
The New Zealand lumpfish, Trachelochismus pinnulatus, is a clingfish of the family Gobiesocidae, found all around New Zealand including the Three Kings Islands, from low water to about 12 m, on rocky coastlines. Its length is up to 10 cm.
The New Zealand lumpfish is common in sheltered rock pools at mid to low tide and in subtidal areas, but is also found in subtidal areas. It is usually found clinging under rocks of exposed areas.
Coloration is pink to red or green dorsally, possibly with longitudinal bands of brown, or spotted brown and yellow. Occasionally there are patches of pink over the dorsal surface. Pale creamy white ventrally.
This species of clingfish is distinguished from others by the broad, bluntly pointed head, a thick, fleshy upper lip and a longitudinal groove below the eye lined with fleshy lobes. The sucking disc lacks flattened papillae across the anterior margin.
It feeds on small molluscs, polychaete worms, amphipods, and other crustaceans .
[edit] References
- "Trachelochismus pinnulatus". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. May 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
