Category: Kelpfish & Fringeheads

Spotted Kelpfish

Kelpfishes and Fringeheads: Family Clinidae Species: Gibbonsia elegans (Cooper, 1864); from Gibbonsai (William P. Gibbons, an early naturalist from Alameda), and the Latin word elegans (elegant or handsome). Alternate Names: Called Sargacero or Sargacero manchado in Mexico. Identification: Typical kelpfish shape—pointed snout, tiny mouth, rounded…

Striped Kelpfish

Kelpfishes and Fringeheads: Family Clinidae Species: Gibbonsai metzi (Hubbs, 1927); from Gibbonsai (William P. Gibbons, an early naturalist from Alameda), and metzi (Charles W. Metz, a student of ichthyology once interested in kelpfish). Alternate Names: Striped kelp-fish, seaweed kelpfish, weed klipfish. Called sargacero or sargacero…

Crevice Kelpfish

Kelpfishes and Fringeheads: Family Clinidae Species: Gibbonsai montereyensis (Hubbs, 1927); from Gibbonsai (William P. Gibbons, an early naturalist from Alameda), and montereyensis (Monterey, an early collection point for the fish). Alternate Names: Spotted kelpfish and crevice klipfish. Called sargacero or sargacero de Monterey in Mexico.…

Onespot Fringehead

Kelpfishes and Fringeheads: Family Clinidae Alternate Names: Fringehead or onespot. Called tubícola mancha singular or blenia in Mexico. Identification: Typical slender blenny-shape, but with a large head and a very large mouth. Their long dorsal fin extends from the rear of the head almost to…

Giant Kelpfish

Kelpfishes and Fringeheads: Family Clinidae Species: Heterostichus rostratus (Girard, 1854); from the Greek words heter (different) and ost (extra bone), and the Latin word rostratus (beaked or hooked). Alternate Names: Kelpfish, eel, iodine fish, butterfish, and kelp blenny. Called sargacero gigante in Mexico. Identification: The…

Sarcastic Fringehead

Kelpfishes and Fringeheads: Family Clinidae Species: Neoclinus blanchardi (Girard, 1858); from the Greek words neos (young) and clin (recline), and Blanchard (in reference to its discoverer). Alternate Names: Twospot fringehead or fringehead. Called tubícola chusco or blenia in Mexico. Identification: Typical slender blenny-shape but with…