Rimicola muscarum (Meek & Pierson, 1895)
Kelp clingfish

Family:  Gobiesocidae (Clingfishes and singleslits), subfamily: Gobiesocinae
Max. size:  7 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine
Distribution:  Eastern Pacific: Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia, Canada to Bahia Todos Santos, southern Baja California, Mexico (Ref. 27436).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6-8; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 6-8. First 1 or 2 rays of dorsal fin embedded; caudal roundish, narrow; pelvic fins united anteriorly by wrinkled membrane to form the anterior portion of small adhesive disc which is completed posteriorly by a broad fold of skin from the ventral surface of body, the anterior and posterior segments of the disc separated by lateral clefts (Ref. 6885). Color light olive green to brown; females sometimes sparsely covered with distinct brownish red spots about the size of the pupil of the eye (Ref. 6885).
Biology:  Clings to strands of kelp (often high in kelp canopy) or eelgrass with its disk; moves to seek food or cover. Rarely found in tide pools.
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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