title: Modicus (fish)
text: # Modicus (fish)
  
  Modicus is a genus of clingfishes endemic to the shores of New Zealand.
  
  ## Characteristics
  
  The genus Modicus is distinguished from closely related genera by the possession of well-developed gill rakers; rays in the pectoral fin; and by having their teeth clustered at the front of either jaw, each jaw having up to two well-developed canines with the lower jaw having a single row of backward curving teeth. There are gill filaments on the first 3 gill arches and the gill membranes are fused medially with the isthmus. The sucker is a double disc formed by the fused pelvic fins.
  
  ## Species
  
  There are currently two recognized species in this genus:
  
  * Modicus minimus Hardy, 1983
  * Modicus tangaroa Hardy, 1983
  