Urchin Clingfish
Dellichthys morelandi
- Group: Other
- Typical depth: 0–15 m
- Max size: 8.5 cm
- For divers: safe
- IUCN status: LC
A tiny clingfish that shelters beneath the spines of sea urchins, this New Zealand species feeds on the urchin's own tube feet and pincer like pedicellariae as well as small crustaceans. Fish too big for the urchin instead hide under rocks or among shell debris. It grows to about nine centimetres in rock pools and the shallow subtidal.
Taxonomy: Animalia › Chordata › Teleostei › Gobiesociformes › Gobiesocidae › Dellichthys
Species data via the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS), AphiaID 280497.
FAQ
- How deep does the Urchin Clingfish live?
- The Urchin Clingfish (Dellichthys morelandi) is typically found at 0–15 m.
- Is the Urchin Clingfish dangerous to divers?
- The Urchin Clingfish is harmless to divers.
- How big does the Urchin Clingfish get?
- The Urchin Clingfish grows to about 8.5 cm.