Clingfishes of the Chatham Islands

The purpose of this project is to understand the distribution, habitat preferences and diversity of Chatham Islands clingfishes. Clingfishes are small, cryptic marine fishes, so named because their pelvic fins are modified to form a sucking disc that allows them to attach firmly to a variety of substrates, including rock, seaweed and skin. Several species are common in rock pools throughout New Zealand. Others such as the giant clingfish live hidden among the blades of seaweeds, while some prefer to shelter beneath the spines of kina. They feed on a variety of small invertebrates such as tiny snails, harpacticoid copepods and amphipods. In other countries some clingfishes even clean parasites off the skin of larger species of fish.

The following clingfishes have been formally recorded from Chatham Islands:

• urchin clingfish (Dellichthys morelandi)
• orange clingfish (Diplocrepis puniceus)
• slender clingfish (Gastrocyathus gracilis)
• Hector's clingfish (Gastroscyphus hectoris)
• giant clingfish (Haplocylix littoreus)
• pink clingfish (Modicus minimus)
• lumpfish (Trachelochismus pinnulatus)

However, observations posted recently on iNaturalist suggest two other species, the estuary clingfish (Trachelochismus aestuarium) and the striped clingfish (Trachelochismus melobesia) also occur at the Chathams. There are probably others. We would like you to keep an eye out for them.

Photos showing the entire fish from above, below are best. Make sure the shot is in focus and be gentle with the fish, don't try to pull them off the rock to get a picture. Try to get them to swim into your hand or a dip net. less ↑