Duck-billed clingfish
| Duck-billed clingfish | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Division: | Teleostei |
| Order: | Blenniiformes |
| Family: | Gobiesocidae |
| Subfamily: | Gobiesocinae |
| Genus: | Nettorhamphos Conway, Moore & Summers, 2017 |
| Species: | N. radula |
| Binomial name | |
| Nettorhamphos radula Conway, G. I. Moore & Summers, 2017[2] | |
Nettorhamphos radula, the duckbilled clingfish, is a species of clingfish (family Gobiesocidae) from the Indian Ocean off Western Australia. It is currently the sole member of the genus Nettorhamphos.[2]
Discovery and appearance
Nettorhamphos radula was discovered in a jar at the Western Australian Museum and only scientifically described in 2017. The specimen was caught and brought to the museum in the 1977.[3]
The species resembles other clingfish in being small (about 4 cm or 1.6 in) and having a suction cup on its chest, but differs by its large upper jaw that resembles the bill of a duck and its exceptionally high number of microscopic teeth, between 1,800 and 2,300.[2][4][5]
References
- ↑ Conway, K.W.; Fujiwara, K. (2025). "Nettorhamphos radula". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2025 e.T241151827A241151829. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS.T241151827A241151829.en. Retrieved 13 May 2026.
- 1 2 3 Conway, Kevin W.; Moore, Glenn I.; Summers, Adam P. (2017). "A New Genus and Species of Clingfish (Teleostei: Gobiesocidae) from Western Australia". Copeia. 105 (1): 128–140. doi:10.1643/CI-16-560. S2CID 90595940.
- ↑ Stephanie Pappas (19 April 2017). "What has 1,800 teeth and a suction cup? A new clingfish species". CBS News. Retrieved 2017-04-22.
- ↑ Stephanie Pappas (18 April 2017). "What Has 1,800 Teeth and a Suction Cup? A New Clingfish Species". Live Science. Live Science. Retrieved 2017-04-22.
- ↑ Bray, D.J. (2017). "Nettorhamphos radula". Fishes of Australia. Museums Victoria. Retrieved 16 June 2019.