How to Identify Clinidae

Clinidae is a animal family in the Animalia kingdom, order Perciformes, class . The family contains 14 accepted species worldwide.

Key Identification Features

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Representative Clinidae Species

How to identify Heterostichus rostratus Girard, 1854

Heterostichus rostratus Girard, 1854

Heterostichus rostratus Girard, 1854

Heterostichus rostratus, the giant kelpfish, is a cryptic North American west co…

How to identify Cristiceps aurantiacus Castelnau, 1879

Cristiceps aurantiacus Castelnau, 1879

Cristiceps aurantiacus Castelnau, 1879

Cristiceps aurantiacus is a species of clinid found in Australia and New Zealand…

How to identify Clinus venustris Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908

Clinus venustris Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908

Clinus venustris Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908

Clinus venustris is a small viviparous clinid fish endemic to Southern African c…

How to identify Clinus cottoides Valenciennes, 1836

Clinus cottoides Valenciennes, 1836

Clinus cottoides Valenciennes, 1836

Clinus cottoides is a viviparous clinid fish with distinct color patterns and sp…

How to identify Cristiceps australis Valenciennes, 1836

Cristiceps australis Valenciennes, 1836

Cristiceps australis Valenciennes, 1836

The crested weedfish (Cristiceps australis) is a clinid species found in souther…

How to identify Heteroclinus perspicillatus (Valenciennes, 1836)

Heteroclinus perspicillatus (Valenciennes, 1836)

Heteroclinus perspicillatus (Valenciennes, 1836)

Heteroclinus perspicillatus, the common weedfish, is an ovoviviparous clinid fis…

How to identify Clinus superciliosus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Clinus superciliosus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Clinus superciliosus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Clinus superciliosus is a variably coloured fish from southern Africa, found fro…

How to identify Gibbonsia montereyensis Hubbs, 1927

Gibbonsia montereyensis Hubbs, 1927

Gibbonsia montereyensis Hubbs, 1927

Gibbonsia montereyensis, the crevice kelpfish, is a small cold-water blenny foun…

How to identify Heteroclinus tristis (Klunzinger, 1872)

Heteroclinus tristis (Klunzinger, 1872)

Heteroclinus tristis (Klunzinger, 1872)

The sharp-nose weedfish Heteroclinus tristis is a clinid from southern Australia…

How to identify Clinus arborescens Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908

Clinus arborescens Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908

Clinus arborescens Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908

Clinus arborescens is a viviparous clinid fish with distinctive fin markings and…

How to identify Heteroclinus roseus (Günther, 1861)

Heteroclinus roseus (Günther, 1861)

Heteroclinus roseus (Günther, 1861)

The Rosy weedfish Heteroclinus roseus is a clinid found in Pacific coastal seawe…

How to identify Gibbonsia elegans (Cooper, 1864)

Gibbonsia elegans (Cooper, 1864)

Gibbonsia elegans (Cooper, 1864)

Gibbonsia elegans, the spotted kelpfish, is a small reef fish found in the coast…

Browse all 14 Clinidae species →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you identify Clinidae?

Clinidae animals belong to the Perciformes order in the Animalia kingdom. The eyes have distinctive bright green and orange radial bands paired with a bright yellow iris. For instant identification, use the iNature app — AI-powered and works offline.

What are the key characteristics of Clinidae?

Clinidae is classified in the order Perciformes, class , phylum Chordata. Its typical colouration ranges from yellow to dark brown, with 4 to 7 distinct body bars.

Sources: GBIF, iNaturalist, Wikipedia · Disclaimer

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