''Gobiesox cephalus'', the riverine clingfish or smooth clingfish, is a species of

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 ...

from the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Gobiesocidae 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 ...

. It is found in the coastal river drainages of the Caribbean from Cuba south to Colombia and Venezuela. It occurs in freshwater, and sometimes in brackish water, preferring a fast current. It is a solitary species which feeds on fishscales, insects and small fish. It is the

type species In zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the species that contains the biological type specimen ...

if the

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 ...

Gobiesox ''Gobiesox'' is a genus of clingfishes found in the Americas, including offshore islands. Most species inhabit coastal marine and brackish waters, but ''G. lanceolatus'' is a deep-water species found at a depth of around , and seven species (''G. ...

'' and was described by Bernard Germain de Lacépède in 1800 with ''Amérique méridionale'' (Central America) given as the type locality.

References

{{Taxonbar, From=Q46336570 Fish described in 1800

cephalus Cephalus (; Ancient Greek: Κέφαλος ''Kephalos'' means "head") is a name used both for the hero-figure in Greek mythology and carried as a theophoric name by historical persons. ''Mythological'' * Cephalus, son of Hermes and Herse. * Ceph ...