Description:
A small fish with a rounded snout and a dorsoventrally flattened body less than 7cm in length. The Cornish sucker is a cryptobenthic species, meaning it is camouflaged to its environment both by its appearance and by its behaviour. The body of the fish ranges from deep reddish purple in colour to a lighter brown/green, with dark, circular markings and a pair of electric blue eyespots behind the head. The pelvic fins of clingfish are specially adapted to form a sucking disc, creating a tight seal between the body and the rock surface and preventing them from being dislodged by wave action in the intertidal zone.
Taxonomy:
The species name is Lepadogaster purpurea.
Habitat:
Often found clinging to the smooth surfaces of boulders and large rocks on the lower shore, as well as tucked under weed-covered crevices. Individuals may be seen to be closely guarding amber-coloured clusters of eggs on the underside of larger rocks.
Diet:
The Cornish sucker is a detritivore, feeding on the decomposing organic material of its environment.
Rock Pool Project:
The Cornish sucker has been found during Bioblitz surveys by our members, particularly during our Bespoke Rockpool Discovery sessions, and has been recorded at eight of our sites across Cornwall.
