Clinidae

Clinids
File:Giant kelpfish.jpg
Giant kelpfish
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Perciformes
Family:	Clinidae
Genera
Many; see text

Clinids are blennioids; perciform marine fish of the family Clinidae. Temperate blennies, the family ranges from the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, in both the Southern and Northern Hemisphere. The family contains approximately 86 species in 20 genera, the 60 centimere long giant kelpfish (Heterostichus rostratus) being the largest; most are far smaller.

With small cycloid scales, clinoid blennies may have a deep or slender build; some members of the family bear the name "snake blenny" and "eel blenny" for this reason. Dorsal spines outnumber soft rays; there are two spines in the anal fin. Like many other blennies, clinids possess whisker-like structures on the head called cirri.

The majority of species possess rich, highly variable coloration in shades of reddish brown to olive, often with cryptic patterns; this suits the lifestyle of clinid blennies, which frequent areas of dense weed or kelp. Generally staying within intertidal zones to depths of about 40 metres, some species are also found in tide pools. Eggs are deposited on kelp for the male to guard. Clinids feed primarily on small crustaceans and mollusks.

The name clinid derives from the Greek klinein meaning "sloping", a reference to the shape of the sphenoid bone.

See also

• List of fish common names
• List of fish families

Family Clinidae

• Genus Blennioclinus
• Genus Blennophis
• Genus Cancelloxus
• Genus Cirrhibarbis
• Genus Climacoporus
• Genus Clinitrachus
• Genus Clinoporus
• Genus Clinus
• Genus Cologrammus
• Genus Cristiceps
• Genus Ericentrus
• Genus Fucomimus
• Genus Gibbonsia
• Genus Heteroclinus
• Genus Muraenoclinus
• Genus Myxodes
• Genus Ophiclinops
• Genus Pavoclinus
• Genus Peronedys
• Genus Ribeiroclinus
• Genus Smithichthys
• Genus Springeratus
• Genus Sticharium
• Genus Xenopoclinus

External link

• FishBase entry for Clinidae