Chorisochismus dentex

FAMILY

Gobiesocidae

TAXONOMY

Chorisochismus dentex Pallas, 1769, type locality not specified.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

None known.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Large, tadpole-like body with a very broad head. There are 7–9 dorsal fin soft rays, 6–7 anal fin soft rays, 21–24 pectoral fin soft rays, and 8–10 caudal fin rays. The teeth are large and conical in shape. Perhaps the largest of all clingfishes, this species reaches 11.8 in (30 cm) in length.

DISTRIBUTION

Southeast Atlantic, from Namibia south to northern Natal in South Africa.

HABITAT

Tide pools and rocks and boulders in the intertidal zone.

BEHAVIOR

Poorly known. Males likely are territorial. Owing to its large size, rocksuckers are probably more mobile than other demersal clingfishes.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

A carnivore that preys upon limpets and sea urchins. This species uses its large upper incisiform teeth to pry limpets off rocks. The undigested shell fragments are passed through the gut and emerge in mucous capsules.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Poorly known. Females probably lay demersal eggs in a male's territory, and the male performs parental care. The larvae are probably planktonic.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Not listed by the IUCN.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

May be collected infrequently for aquaria.