Scientific name Clinidae Higher classification Blennies Order Perciformes | Superfamily Blennioidei Phylum Chordata Rank Family | |
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Lower classifications Cristiceps, Cristiceps aurantiacus, Crested weedfish | ||
Clinidae is a family of blennioids; perciform marine fish. Temperate blennies, the family ranges from the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, in both the Southern and Northern Hemispheres. The family contains about 86 species in 20 genera, the 60-cm-long giant kelpfish (Heterostichus rostratus) being the largest; most are far smaller.
With small cycloid scales, clinoid blennies may have a deep or slender build; some members of the family bear the name "snake blenny" and "eel blenny" for this reason. Dorsal spines outnumber soft rays; there are two spines in the anal fin. Like many other blennies, clinids possess whisker-like structures on their heads called cirri.
The majority of species possess rich, highly variable colouration in shades of reddish-brown to olive, often with cryptic patterns; this suits the lifestyle of clinid blennies, which frequent areas of dense weed or kelp. Generally staying within intertidal zones to depths of about 40 m, some species are also found in tide pools. Eggs are deposited on kelp for the male to guard. Clinids feed primarily on small crustaceans and mollusks.
The name Clinidae derives from the Greek klinein meaning "sloping", a reference to the shape of the sphenoid bone.
