Gaidropsarus mediterraneus

Cladus: Eukaryota
Supergroup: Opisthokonta
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Cladus: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Osteichthyes
Classis: Actinopterygii
Subclassis: Neopterygii
Infraclassis: Teleostei
Superordo: Paracanthopterygii
Ordo: Gadiformes
Familia: Gadidae
Subfamilia: Gaidropsarinae
Genus: Gaidropsarus
Species: G. mediterraneus

The Shore rockling (Gaidropsarus mediterraneus) is a mottled brown small elongated fish. This eel-like fish has 3 barbels on its head, with 2nd Dorsal fin and Anal fin running the long most of its body. These fins may be viewed moving in a continuous wave motion.

The Shore Rockling is often confused with the five-bearded rockling (Ciliata mustela) and also the larger three-bearded rockling (Gaidropsarus vulgaris), due to their similar colourings, shape and habitat.

As the name suggests, main visual differences are the Five-bearded Rockling having five barbels around its mouth, whereas the Three-bearded Rockling having a significant redness to its brown colouring when compared to the Shore Rockling.

Shore Rocklings live in and around rocky areas throughout the English Channel feeding on both worms and crustaceans.

Other than in the English Channel, Shore Rocklings are also found in the Atlantic (Europe) and Mediterranean.[1][2]

References

1. ^ http://web.ukonline.co.uk/aquarium/pages/shorerockling.html UK Online - Aquarium
2. ^ http://busybee.mba.ac.uk/species/Gaidropsarusmediterraneus.htm Busybee.mba