Order GOBIESOCIFORMES
Springer and Fraser (1976) have demonstrated that the
peculiar, eel-like Alabes (with 4 species endemic to southern
Australia) are highly modified members of this order. They
recommend that this genus (formerly the only genus of the
Family Cheilobranchidae) be assigned to the Gobiesocidae.
An a,lternative arrangement that would express the extremely specialised nature of Alabes would be to recognise
the Cheilobranchidae as the second of two families in the
Order Gobiesociformes. Fishes of this order are then
characterised, not by the distinctive gobiesocid sucking disc
that is formed by the modified pelvic fins (as the sucking
disc and pelvic fins are vestigial or absent in Alabes) , but by
a unique joint between the supracleithrum and the
cleithrum bones of the pectoral girdle. Lauder and Liem
(1983) added two additional specialised features that link
Alabes with the Gobiesocidae and will thus serve to characterise this order: (1) a joint between the interopercle and
epihyal; and (2) a unique heart structure. These anatomical
details are of interest to the ichthyologist concerned with
the higher classification of the Gobiesociformes, but for all
practical purposes (since no species of Alabes occurs in our
area) we can continue to recognise a gobiesocid fish by its
characteristic pelvic sucking disc.
Family No. 110: GOBIESOCIDAE
by J.e. Briggs
Clingfishes
Suiervisse
Anterior portion of head more or less depressed. Lateral
line present with pores well developed on head but small
and difficult to locate posteriorly. No scales. Anterior
nostril tubular, posterior nostril usually so. One dorsal and
one anal fin . Pelvic fins incorporated into a prominent,
adhesive disc on ventral surface directly below junction of
head and body. The 4 pelvic rays form lateral edge of disc,
last ray with membranous attachment to lower portion of
pectoral base. Surface of disc is divided into 3 different
A --,."-'::""_
Disc regions: left: Lepadogaster, a double type disc, and right: Gobiesox, a
single type disc. A, B & C regions as in text above.
378
areas: Region A anterior portion, Region B posterior portion, Region C central. The discs are of 2 basic types;
"double" with a small posterior disc separated from front
portion by free, anterior edge; "single" with the 2 parts
coalesced into 1 continuous structure.
Cosmopolitan in tropical and temperate waters. Six subfamilies, 7 genera and 9 species in southern African waters.
KEY TO GENERA
1a Gills 3Yz; gill membranes attached to isthmus..... ...... ................ 2
1b Gills 3 .............................................................. .............. 4
2a Disc double ..... (Subfamily LEPADOGASTRINAE) ... ............ 3
2b Disc single ... (Subfamily CHORISOCHISMINAE) ... Chorisochismus
2a Lepadogaster sp.
2b Chorisochismus dentex
3a Anus surrounded by papillae; anus nearer to A
origin than to sucking disc; small incisors at front
of jaws followed by well-developed canines ................. Apletodon
3b No papillae around anus; anus nearer rear margin
of sucking disc than to A origin; patches of small
canines at front of jaws, but no incisors .................. Diplecogaster
4a Gill membranes free from isthmus ........................................ 5
4b Gill membranes attached to isthmus ...................................... 6
5a Disc double ..... (Subfamily DIPLOCREPINAE) ....... Pherallodus
5b Disc single ..... (Subfamily GOBIESOCINAE) ...... Eckloniaichrhys
5a PherallorJus smltnl
5b Eckloniaichthys scylliorhiniceps
6a Disc double ..... (Subfamily ASPASMINAE) ........... Lissonanchus
6b Disc single ... (Subfamily DIADEMICHTHYINAE) ... Lepadichthys
4;~~.~~
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~
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6a Lissonanchus lusheri
6b Lepadichthys sp.
Genus Apletodon Briggs, 1955
Two species; 1 in our area.
Springer and Fraser (1976) have demonstrated that the
peculiar, eel-like Alabes (with 4 species endemic to southern
Australia) are highly modified members of this order. They
recommend that this genus (formerly the only genus of the
Family Cheilobranchidae) be assigned to the Gobiesocidae.
An a,lternative arrangement that would express the extremely specialised nature of Alabes would be to recognise
the Cheilobranchidae as the second of two families in the
Order Gobiesociformes. Fishes of this order are then
characterised, not by the distinctive gobiesocid sucking disc
that is formed by the modified pelvic fins (as the sucking
disc and pelvic fins are vestigial or absent in Alabes) , but by
a unique joint between the supracleithrum and the
cleithrum bones of the pectoral girdle. Lauder and Liem
(1983) added two additional specialised features that link
Alabes with the Gobiesocidae and will thus serve to characterise this order: (1) a joint between the interopercle and
epihyal; and (2) a unique heart structure. These anatomical
details are of interest to the ichthyologist concerned with
the higher classification of the Gobiesociformes, but for all
practical purposes (since no species of Alabes occurs in our
area) we can continue to recognise a gobiesocid fish by its
characteristic pelvic sucking disc.
Family No. 110: GOBIESOCIDAE
by J.e. Briggs
Clingfishes
Suiervisse
Anterior portion of head more or less depressed. Lateral
line present with pores well developed on head but small
and difficult to locate posteriorly. No scales. Anterior
nostril tubular, posterior nostril usually so. One dorsal and
one anal fin . Pelvic fins incorporated into a prominent,
adhesive disc on ventral surface directly below junction of
head and body. The 4 pelvic rays form lateral edge of disc,
last ray with membranous attachment to lower portion of
pectoral base. Surface of disc is divided into 3 different
A --,."-'::""_
Disc regions: left: Lepadogaster, a double type disc, and right: Gobiesox, a
single type disc. A, B & C regions as in text above.
378
areas: Region A anterior portion, Region B posterior portion, Region C central. The discs are of 2 basic types;
"double" with a small posterior disc separated from front
portion by free, anterior edge; "single" with the 2 parts
coalesced into 1 continuous structure.
Cosmopolitan in tropical and temperate waters. Six subfamilies, 7 genera and 9 species in southern African waters.
KEY TO GENERA
1a Gills 3Yz; gill membranes attached to isthmus..... ...... ................ 2
1b Gills 3 .............................................................. .............. 4
2a Disc double ..... (Subfamily LEPADOGASTRINAE) ... ............ 3
2b Disc single ... (Subfamily CHORISOCHISMINAE) ... Chorisochismus
2a Lepadogaster sp.
2b Chorisochismus dentex
3a Anus surrounded by papillae; anus nearer to A
origin than to sucking disc; small incisors at front
of jaws followed by well-developed canines ................. Apletodon
3b No papillae around anus; anus nearer rear margin
of sucking disc than to A origin; patches of small
canines at front of jaws, but no incisors .................. Diplecogaster
4a Gill membranes free from isthmus ........................................ 5
4b Gill membranes attached to isthmus ...................................... 6
5a Disc double ..... (Subfamily DIPLOCREPINAE) ....... Pherallodus
5b Disc single ..... (Subfamily GOBIESOCINAE) ...... Eckloniaichrhys
5a PherallorJus smltnl
5b Eckloniaichthys scylliorhiniceps
6a Disc double ..... (Subfamily ASPASMINAE) ........... Lissonanchus
6b Disc single ... (Subfamily DIADEMICHTHYINAE) ... Lepadichthys
4;~~.~~
~.;~~~
{fJ~nrl:';~'
tP,~. ", £tI;l.
wa~,,~..
''',' fl , o,,~
:i, ~.-..7.;".~, . , '0
~~~i
~
fi"·
. '.-!,;rv~o/':.;'t
lC~{I~r!~
\~:~~1!;J~
6a Lissonanchus lusheri
6b Lepadichthys sp.
Genus Apletodon Briggs, 1955
Two species; 1 in our area.