Sharpnose sculpin
📖 Overview
Facultative air-breathing in the genus ; Commonly found in rocky intertidal and subtidal areas, but also over sand and in eelgrass and seaweeds . May leave tide pools if aquatic conditions become inhospitable . Occasionally enters fresh water . Probably feeds on small invertebrates common among seaweed and in tide pools. Breathes air when out of water .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 7 - 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14 - 16; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 10 - 13; Vertebrae: 32 - 33. Distinguished by the flattened tripartite anal papilla and the cirri on the eyeballs, head, lateral line and at the tip of each dorsal spine . Gill rakers reduced to low smooth mounds; lateral line high toward the head, curving downward to middle of sides, straight toward the tail, each of the anterior 15 or so pores having a slender cirrus . Next to the last anal ray longer than the rays before and behind it; pectorals reach to or just beyond front of anal fin; caudal rounded . Color varies with the environment, sometimes nearly uniform bright green but more often green to light brown above with dark wedge-shaped saddles, broader below, on upper part of sides, with lighter color between; sometimes, along or below lateral line, a dark longitudinal stripe that is in some cases interrupted with light spots; ventral region creamy to white; three dark lines radiating from the eye, the first to the snout, another downward to behind the mouth, the third rearward to base of preopercular spine; spiny dorsal with a dark blotch between first and third spine; pelvic fins plain, others usually dusky, mottled or indistinctly barred .: elongated.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Sharpnose sculpin is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
Oviparous .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; depth range 0 - 20 m . Temperate; 66°N - 34°N central California, USA.
🌿 Ecology
small invertebrates common among seaweed and in tide pools
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | sharpnose sculpin |
| 🌍CES | vranka ostrohlavá |
| 🇫🇷French | chabot à nez pointu |
| 🇵🇱Polish | Klinokotka Srebrnolica |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Остроносый малый бычок |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blennicottus acuticeps | Gilbert | 1896 | Synonym |
| Oligocottus acuticeps | Gilbert | 1896 | Synonym |
| Oxycottus acuticeps | Gilbert | 1896 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 2 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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