''Gobiesox'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

clingfish Clingfishes are fishes of the family Gobiesocidae, the only family in the order Gobiesociformes. These fairly small to very small fishes are widespread in tropical and temperate regions, mostly near the coast, but a few species in deeper seas or ...

es found in the

Americas The Americas, which are sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprising the totality of North and South America. The Americas make up most of the land in Earth's Western Hemisphere and comprise the New World. Along with th ...

, including offshore islands. Most species inhabit coastal marine and

brackish Brackish water, sometimes termed brack water, is water occurring in a natural environment that has more salinity than freshwater, but not as much as seawater. It may result from mixing seawater (salt water) and fresh water together, as in estuari ...

waters, but ''G. lanceolatus'' is a deep-water species found at a depth of around , and seven species (''G. cephalus'', ''G. fluviatilis'', ''G. fulvus'', ''G. juniperoserrai'', ''G. juradoensis'', ''G. mexicanus'' and ''G. potamius'') are from fast-flowing rivers and streams. These seven are the only known freshwater clingfish. The genus includes both widespread and common species, and more restricted species that are virtually unknown. Three freshwater species that are

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

to Mexico (''G. fluviatilis'', ''G. juniperoserrai'' and ''G. mexicanus'') are considered

threatened Threatened species are any species (including animals, plants and fungi) which are vulnerable to endangerment in the near future. Species that are threatened are sometimes characterised by the population dynamics measure of ''critical depensat ...

by Mexican authorities, and three species that are endemic to small offshore islands (''G aethus'' and ''G. canidens'' of the

Revillagigedo Islands The Revillagigedo Islands ( es, Islas Revillagigedo, ) or Revillagigedo Archipelago are a group of four volcanic islands in the Pacific Ocean, known for their unique ecosystem. They lie approximately from Socorro Island south and southwest of C ...

, and ''G. woodsi'' of

Cocos Island Cocos Island ( es, Isla del Coco) is an island in the Pacific Ocean administered by Costa Rica, approximately southwest of the Costa Rican mainland. It constitutes the 11th of the 13 districts of Puntarenas Canton of the Province of Puntarenas ...

) are considered vulnerable by the

IUCN The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natu ...

. ''Gobiesox'' are small fish, mostly less than , but at up to in

standard length Fish measurement is the measuring of individual fish and various parts of their anatomies. These data are used in many areas of ichthyology, including taxonomy and fisheries biology. Overall length * Standard length (SL) is the length of a fish m ...

the largest species are among the largest clingfish.

Species

Example of Skilletfish Gobiesox strumosus

There are currently 30 recognized species in this genus. However, genetic studies have shown that '' Pherallodiscus'' should be merged into ''Gobiesox'' (adding two species to ''Gobiesox''). * '' Gobiesox adustus'' D. S. Jordan & C. H. Gilbert, 1882 (Panamic clingfish) * '' Gobiesox aethus'' ( Briggs, 1951) (Clarion clingfish) * '' Gobiesox barbatulus'' Starks, 1913 (Lappet-lip clingfish) * '' Gobiesox canidens'' ( Briggs, 1951) (Socorro clingfish) * '' Gobiesox cephalus'' Lacépède, 1800 * '' Gobiesox crassicorpus'' ( Briggs, 1951) * '' Gobiesox daedaleus'' Briggs, 1951 * '' Gobiesox eugrammus'' Briggs, 1955 (Lined clingfish) * '' Gobiesox fluviatilis'' Briggs &

R. R. Miller Robert Rush Miller (April 23, 1916 – February 10, 2003) "was an important figure in American ichthyology and conservation from 1940 to the 1990s." He was born in Colorado Springs, earned his bachelor's degree at University of California, Berke ...

, 1960 (Mountain clingfish) * '' Gobiesox fulvus''

Meek Meekness is an attribute of human nature and behavior that has been defined as an amalgam of righteousness, inner humility, and patience. Meekness has been contrasted with humility alone insomuch as humility simply refers to an attitude towards o ...

, 1907 * '' Gobiesox juniperoserrai'' Espinosa-Pérez & Castro-Aguirre, 1996 (Peninsular clingfish) * '' Gobiesox juradoensis'' Fowler, 1944 * '' Gobiesox lanceolatus''

Hastings Hastings () is a large seaside town and borough in East Sussex on the south coast of England, east to the county town of Lewes and south east of London. The town gives its name to the Battle of Hastings, which took place to the north-west ...

& Conway, 2017 (Canyon clingfish) * '' Gobiesox lucayanus'' Briggs, 1963 (Bahama clingfish) * ''

Gobiesox maeandricus The northern clingfish (''Gobiesox maeandricus'') is a species of saltwater fish. It is a member of the family Gobiesocidae of order Gobiesociformes. It is native to the Pacific coast of North America from Revillagigedo Island and Baja Californi ...

'' ( Girard, 1858) (Northern clingfish) * '' Gobiesox marijeanae'' Briggs, 1960 (Lonely clingfish) * '' Gobiesox marmoratus'' L. Jenyns, 1842 * '' Gobiesox mexicanus'' Briggs &

, 1960 (Mexican clingfish) * '' Gobiesox milleri'' Briggs, 1955 * '' Gobiesox multitentaculus'' ( Briggs, 1951) * '' Gobiesox nigripinnis'' ( W. K. H. Peters, 1859) (Black-finned clingfish) * '' Gobiesox papillifer'' C. H. Gilbert, 1890 (Bearded clingfish) * '' Gobiesox pinniger'' C. H. Gilbert, 1890 * '' Gobiesox potamius'' Briggs, 1955 * '' Gobiesox punctulatus'' ( Poey, 1876) (Stippled clingfish) * '' Gobiesox rhessodon'' R. S. Eigenmann, 1881 (California clingfish) * '' Gobiesox schultzi'' Briggs, 1951 (Smooth-lip clingfish) * '' Gobiesox stenocephalus'' Briggs, 1955 * '' Gobiesox strumosus''

Cope The cope (known in Latin as ''pluviale'' 'rain coat' or ''cappa'' 'cape') is a liturgical vestment, more precisely a long mantle or cloak, open in front and fastened at the breast with a band or clasp. It may be of any liturgical colours, litu ...

, 1870 * '' Gobiesox woodsi'' ( L. P. Schultz, 1944) (Woods' clingfish)

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1989044 Gobiesocidae Freshwater fish genera Marine fish genera Taxa named by Bernard Germain de Lacépède