Clingfishes and Singleslits: Gobiesocoidei

Clingfishes use their sucking disk to cling to rocks, plants, or even sea urchins. Clingfishes and singleslits tend to be secretive and probably are territorial. In mating the male nudges the female's belly. If the female accepts him, the male moves parallel to her and quivers. The female then quivers and deposits eggs on stones, algae, or other bottom material while the male places sperm on them. Egg laying may last several minutes to a few hours. The eggs then are guarded by the male or abandoned by the pair. Larvae (LAR-vee), the early stage that must change form before becoming adults, probably drift in the water.