Animalia Life

Tomicodon humeralis
FAMILY
Gobiesocidae
TAXONOMY
Tomicodon humeralis Gilbert, 1890, Puerto Refugio (Angel Island) and La Paz, Mexico.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
Spanish: Chupapiedra de Sonora.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Compressed, elongate body with a broad head and a large sucking disc. There are 8–9 dorsal fin soft rays, 6–7 anal soft fin rays, 17–19 pectoral fin soft rays, and 9–10 caudal fin soft rays. The color pattern consists of light diagonal stripes along the entire body, with a pair of dorsal spots positioned just behind the head, about even with the pectoral fins. Grows to 3.3 in (8.5 cm) in length. Sexually dimorphic, with males larger than females.
DISTRIBUTION
Endemic to the Gulf of California from Punta Borrascoso to Guaymas in Sonora and from San Felipe to Cabo San Lucas in Baja California.
HABITAT
A common clingfish found mainly in the upper and mid-intertidal zones, usually under rocks, to which they cling, and in little or no water. If kept moist, this fish is able to withstand extreme temperatures when exposed to air.
BEHAVIOR
This species is secretive, clinging to the undersides of rocks and moving over rocky surfaces to feed. Their movements are related to tidal movements. Activity is greater at high tide, and there is little or no activity at low tide. Males are territorial. Both males and females secrete large amounts of mucus, which coats their bodies and protects them from desiccation.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
A diurnal predator that feeds upon small crustaceans, including barnacles and limpids.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Spawning begins in late spring or early summer and is paired with demersal courtship. A single male may mate with more than one female. Eggs are adhesive and laid on the underside of rocks, where they are guarded by the male, sometimes with the aid of one or more females. During low tide, the parents secrete mucus that protects the eggs from exposure. The larvae are planktonic.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not listed by the IUCN.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
May be collected infrequently for aquaria.

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