About Apletodon pellegrini (Chabanaud, 1925)
Apletodon pellegrini, commonly known as the chubby clingfish, reaches a maximum total length of 5.0 cm (2.0 in). It has a short body with a thick, triangular head that tapers to a narrow tail. Its body color ranges from nearly white to pink to dark maroon, and may be covered in dark blotches when the base body color is mostly pale, or light blotches when the base body color is mostly dark. These blotches do not appear on every individual. The pelvic fins are modified to form a sucker, which the fish uses to attach itself to smooth, flat surfaces. Papillae surround the anus. The species usually has a pale line running between the eyes, and this marking can form a triangle in some specimens. Both jaws have large, rounded, incisor-like teeth at the front of the mouth; these teeth are particularly prominent in adult males. For reproduction, females lay eggs inside shells at different times throughout the year. The female guards the shell and the transparent eggs held inside it. After the eggs hatch, small round marks remain visible on the shell where the eggs were attached. Juveniles hide while they grow, and mid-sized individuals can be found a couple of weeks after hatching.
