Apletodon barbatus
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Apletodon barbatus faces significant pressure from coastal development and marine pollution throughout its Mediterranean range. Bottom trawling and other destructive fishing practices directly impact the rocky substrates and algal communities this clingfish depends on for shelter and feeding. Climate change-induced warming of Mediterranean waters threatens to alter the delicate balance of its shallow coastal ecosystem.
Habitat
This small clingfish inhabits shallow rocky reefs and algal beds in the Mediterranean Sea, typically found at depths of 1-30 meters. It shows a strong preference for areas with dense algal growth, particularly Cystoseira forests, where it uses its ventral sucker disc to attach to rocks and algae.
