Lepadogaster

''Lepadogaster'' is a genus of clingfishes native to the eastern Atlantic Ocean extending into the Mediterranean Sea. ''Lepadogaster'' belongs to class Actinopterygii. This means that they share many of the same characteristics as eels, ray-finned fish, and sea horses to name a few. The main characteristic of all of them though is having fin rays. These fin rays are made of webbed skin and are attached to portions of the body that connect fins to the bones. ''Lepadogaster'' species have a distinct difference in the formation of their dorsal and anal fins. While most other ray-finned fish spines, branched fin-rays, and middle radials, ''Lepadogaster'' species do not have these. Instead, they have cartilage in place of the mentioned features. These clingfish are mainly found near the rocky coasts and inside intertidal zones. ''Lepadogaster'' is known mostly as a clingfish, meaning that it spends most of its time attached to the surface of rocks.

''Lepadogaster'' species normally live in intertidal zones and there is frequent species interaction between other fish and other ''Lepadogaster'' species. Some of the species have drastically different behaviors, even though they are only a few feet away. For example, ''L. purpurea'' exhibits very passive behavior in both its feeding and social patterns. ''L. candolii'' on the other hand, exhibits active behavior and is significantly more aggressive than the other species. One other example is seen in their spawning seasons and swim patterns. ''L. lepadogaster'' normally spawns during the spring season, while ''L. purpurea'' spawns during the winter seasons. This may be the reason why ''L. lepadogaster'' is a more active swimmer than ''L. purpurea''.

''Lepadogaster'' has a complex life cycle that is split up into a larval stage, a juvenile stage, and an adult stage. ''Lepadogaster'' species spend their larval stages inside an intermediate host; normally plankton. As the larvae mature and leave the plankton, they settle in the benthic layer where they enter their juvenile and adult stages. During this time, the larvae undergo morphological changes that result in their adult forms. ''Lepadogaster'' larvae also have feeding patterns similar to those of other shore fish. While most larvae have a "cruise and ambush" pattern of feeding, shore fish employ a "saltatory search," or "pause-travel" feeding pattern. Instead of actively swimming around and searching for food, ''Lepadogaster'' remains stationary and scans its surroundings for food. When no food is in range, it swims a short distance away and stops to scan the area again for food. This process repeats itself until the fish finds food. It was also discovered that differences in swim speed and direction during this feeding pattern differ based on size and species.

''Lepadogaster'' species also have an uncommon reproductive strategy that some other shore fish have. ''Lepadogaster'' species have semicystic spermatogenesis, which is a rare form of spermatogenesis in which the cyst breaks apart before the spermatozoon stage. The sperm of ''Lepadogaster'' also has an odd elongated shape to it.

Some workers have found that while ''L. lepadogaster'' and ''L. purpurea'' are each other's closest relatives, ''L. candolli'' is not closely related to either and have proposed the placing of this species in the revived monotypic genus ''Mirbelia'' Canestrini, 1864, at least until more definitive taxonomic studies can be undertaken.

Species

There are currently three recognized species in this genus:
* ''Lepadogaster candolii'' A. Risso, 1810 (Connemara clingfish)
* ''Lepadogaster lepadogaster'' ( Bonnaterre, 1788) (Shore clingfish)
* ''Lepadogaster purpurea'' ( Bonnaterre, 1788) (Cornish sucker)

References

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Gobiesocidae