Weedsucker (Eckloniaichthys scylliorhiniceps)
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from FishBase, occurrence map from GBIF, conservation from IUCN Red List, description from Wikipedia.
The weedsucker (Eckloniaichthys scylliorhiniceps) is a species of clingfish found along the coasts of Namibia and South Africa, from Lüderitz to the mouth of the Kei River. This species grows to a maximum length of 3.5 cm Total Length. This species is the only known member of its genus and was described by James L.B. Smith in 1943 with the type locality being described as 10 mi west of East London, east of Igoda, South Africa.
- Scientific name
- Eckloniaichthys scylliorhiniceps
- Authority
- Smith, 1943
- Family
- Gobiesocidae
- Order
- Gobiesociformes
- Maximum length
- 3.5 cm
- Habitat zone
- demersal
- Iucn red list
- Least Concern
- Gbif occurrence records
- 53
Classification (WoRMS)
Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Gobiesociformes · Family: Gobiesocidae · Genus: Eckloniaichthys.
Accepted name: Eckloniaichthys scylliorhiniceps · Authority: Smith, 1943 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 219758.
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=219758 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Biology and life history (FishBase)
Measured values published by FishBase for Eckloniaichthys scylliorhiniceps. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.
Maximum length: 3.5 cm · Habitat zone: demersal · Body shape: elongated · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.
Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 23227) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Eckloniaichthys-scylliorhiniceps.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)
53 georeferenced occurrence records for Eckloniaichthys scylliorhiniceps are published through GBIF from 2 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 7 distinct locations from a sample of 53 records, omitting 3 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.
Most records by country or area: South Africa (51); Namibia (2).
Marine regions with a valid WoRMS distribution record: South Africa (country).
Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2411547) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2411547&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=219758 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Conservation status (IUCN Red List)
The IUCN Red List assesses Eckloniaichthys scylliorhiniceps Smith, 1943 as Least Concern (code LC). No trend, population estimate or threat analysis is given here, because none is available from this source without the Red List API; follow the source link for the full assessment, including its date.
Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (taxon 21110616) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/21110616/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2411547) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2411547/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.
Description and natural history (Wikipedia)
The weedsucker is common in the waters off southern Africa and its most obvious trait is that, like clingfishes it secures itself to the substrate by means of a disc like sucker made from modified pelvic fins. Its diet consist wholly of small benthic crustaceans. The eggs are fertilised internally, the female laying from 120 to 150 eggs on the fronds of kelp. They are thought to spawn throughout the year. They are thought to be preyed on by diving birds such as Cape cormorants and by fish such as Poroderma africanum. The weedsucker is regarded as an important component of the kelp forest ecosystem which is found below the low water mark because it forms a link in the food web between its prey of small, benthic crustaceans meiofauna and larger predators.
The generic name is a compound of Ecklonia which a genus of sea bamboo or kelp in which this species occurs and which is Greek for 'fish'. The specific name is another compound with being Greek for a dogfish, meaning 'snout' and meaning 'head', a reference to this species' pointed snout.
Source: Wikipedia: Weedsucker — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weedsucker (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
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