Clinocottus globiceps was first formally described as Oligocottus globiceps in 1858 by the French ichthyologist Charles Frédéric Girard with its type locality given as Southern Farallones Island, off San Francisco in California.

[2] This species has a dense covering cirri on the head, especially between the eyes, and lateral line.

[2] Clinocottus globiceps has the ability to breathe air and may leave a rock pool if the conditions in the water there become unsuitable.

[2] These fishes have a diverse diet including barnacles, copepods, nemerteans, annelids and ostracods, as well as algae.

[8] They are also known to be predators of the anenomes Anthopleura elegantissima and Epiactis prolifera which is thought to be a reason for some of their morphological and behavioral adaptations.