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Clingfish

Wembury Marine Centre

Shore clingfish / Cornish sucker

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Scientific name: Lepadogaster purpurea
One of the most bizarre fish to find on the rocky shore, the clingfish appears an assortment of different animals stuck together!

Top facts

Stats

Up to 7cm long.

Conservation status

Common.

When to see

April - October.

About

This fascinating rockpool creature has a mouth more like a duck-billed platypus than a fish! Their pelvic fin is modified into a sucker, allowing it to stick upside down on the underside of rocks.

What to look for

Small, distinctive reddish/brown fish, with a flattened head and duck-bill snout. Two turquoise eye spots on the top of the head, behind the eyes and large tentacles in front of each nostril.

Where to find

Mostly found in South West England, Wales, South West Scotland, and Ireland.

Did you know?

Male clingfish will guard their eggs by attaching themselves to the underside of rocks and sticking there, so it is especially important not to disturb them if you turn a rock over and find one!