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 300 m (980 ft),[1] 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.[2][3]

Gobiesox
Gobiesox maeandricus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Blenniiformes
Family: Gobiesocidae
Subfamily: Gobiesocinae
Genus: Gobiesox
Lacépède, 1800
Type species
Gobiesox cephalus
Lacépède, 1800

The genus includes both widespread and common species, and more restricted species that are virtually unknown. Three freshwater species that are endemic to Mexico (G. fluviatilis, G. juniperoserrai and G. mexicanus) are considered threatened by Mexican authorities,[4] and three species that are endemic to small offshore islands (G aethus and G. canidens of the Revillagigedo Islands, and G. woodsi of Cocos Island) are considered vulnerable by the IUCN.[5][6][7]

Gobiesox are small fish, mostly less than 7 cm (2.8 in), but at up to 15 cm (5.9 in) in standard length the largest species are among the largest clingfish.[8]

Species

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Gobiesox rhessodon
 
Gobiesox strumosus

There are currently 30 recognized species in this genus.[8] However, genetic studies have shown that Pherallodiscus should be merged into Gobiesox (adding two species to Gobiesox).[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Hastings, P.A.; K.W. Conway (2017). "Gobiesox lanceolatus, a new species of clingfish (Teleostei: Gobiesocidae) from Los Frailes submarine canyon, Gulf of California, Mexico" (PDF). Zootaxa. 4221 (3): 393–400. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4221.3.8. PMID 28187671.
  2. ^ a b Conway, K.W.; D. Kim; L. Rüber; H.S. Espinosa Pérez; P.A. Hastings (2017). "Molecular systematics of the New World clingfish genus Gobiesox (Teleostei: Gobiesocidae) and the origin of a freshwater clade". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 112: 138–147. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2017.04.024. PMID 28461202.
  3. ^ Mercado-Silva, N.; J.J. Schmitter-Soto; H. Espinosa-Pérez (2016). "Overlap of mountain clingfish (Gobiesox fluviatilis) and Mexican clingfish (Gobiesox mexicanus) in the Cuitzmala River, Jalisco, Mexico". The Southwestern Naturalist. 61 (1): 83–87. doi:10.1894/0038-4909-61.1.83. S2CID 89271402.
  4. ^ Ceballos, G.; E.D. Pardo; L.M. Estévez; H.E. Pérez, eds. (2016). Los peces dulceacuícolas de México en peligro de extinción. pp. 420–426. ISBN 978-607-16-4087-1.
  5. ^ Hastings, P.; Dominici-Arosemena, A. (2010). "Gobiesox aethus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T184028A8223759. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T184028A8223759.en.
  6. ^ Hastings, P.; Dominici-Arosemena, A. (2010). "Gobiesox canidens". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T154639A4594926. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T154639A4594926.en.
  7. ^ Hastings, P.; Dominici-Arosemena, A. (2010). "Gobiesox woodsi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T183880A8193714. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T183880A8193714.en.
  8. ^ a b Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Gobiesox". FishBase. October 2018 version.