New 🐟 Mercury Safety Guide & Omega-3 Rankings Updated for 2026. View Omega-3 Rankings →

🌊 Marine Least Concern 🍽️ Edible 🌡️ Temperate

Grunt sculpin

Rhamphocottus richardsonii Günther, 1874
Max Length
8.9 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
3.4
Depth
0–165 m
Climate
Temperate
Resilience
-
Vulnerability
10.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
demersal

📖 Overview

Inhabits intertidal areas and to 165 m depth, in tide pools and rocky areas but also sand bottoms . Frequently observed taking shelter in empty shells, including those of the giant barnacle, Balanus nubilis, and discarded bottles and cans . Young feed on zooplankton and invertebrate and fish larvae; adults feed also feed on crustaceans . May use its pectoral fins to crawl over rocks and seaweed .

Scientific Name
Rhamphocottus richardsonii
Authority
Günther, 1874
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Temperate
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
8.9 cm
Depth Range
0–165 m
Trophic Level
3.4
Vulnerability
10.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 7 - 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12 - 13; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 6 - 7. Caudal fin well rounded.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Grunt sculpin is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

aquatic invertebrates
small fish
algae
detritus

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous 📦 Batch Spawner
Spawning Season
spring-summer
Spawn Location
Pelagic
Fertilization
External

A female chases a male into a rock crevice. She keeps him there until she lays her eggs .

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; demersal; depth range 0 - 165 m . Temperate; 66°N - 32°N North Pacific: Japan to Alaska and at least Santa Monica Bay, southern California, USA.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine ⬇️ Benthic
Trophic Level
3.4±0.37
Food Items

zooplankton and invertebrate and fish larvae; adults feed also feed on crustaceans (Ref

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.01995 × L3.01 (TL)
Max TL
8.9cm
Dorsal Spines
8
Dorsal Rays
13
Anal Rays
7

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2020

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Fishing Vulnerability
10.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.4
Predator
Climate Zone
Temperate
Described By
Günther, 1874

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"Grunt sculpin is an edible species."

✗ Not for Raw
✓ Fresh Indicators
  • Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
  • Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
  • Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
  • Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
  • Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
✗ Avoid If
  • Cloudy or sunken eyes
  • Strong fishy or ammonia odour
  • Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
  • Discoloured or dry flesh
Best Cooking Methods
Baking Grilling Pan-frying

⚡ Nutrition

Detailed nutritional data for Grunt sculpin is currently being compiled from USDA FoodData Central.

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for Grunt sculpin has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

Best Choice
Healthy stocks, low impact
Good Alternative
Well-managed, minor concerns
Use Caution
Check sourcing and season
Avoid
Overfished or high impact
✓ Sustainable Choice

🔬 Full Nutritional Profile

Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)

Proximate Composition
Energy125 kcal
Moisture75 %
Protein20 %
Total Fat4 %
Ash1.3 %
Fatty Acids (g)
Saturated Fat1 g
Monounsaturated Fat1.2 g
Polyunsaturated Fat1.5 g
Omega-3 Total1 g
EPA0.3 g
DHA0.5 g
Omega-6 Total0.3 g
Key Minerals & Vitamins
Calcium20 mg
Iron0.7 mg
Magnesium30 mg
Phosphorus220 mg
Potassium380 mg
Sodium55 mg
Zinc0.5 mg
Selenium32 µg
Vitamin B122 µg

📊 Population Dynamics

Year Region Index Notes
- - -

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language Common Names
🇬🇧English grunt sculpin
🇫🇷French chabot grogneur
🇯🇵Japanese クチバシカジカ
🇵🇱Polish Glowacz ryjkowy
🇵🇹Portuguese Escorpião-roncador

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 11 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
0 Observations logged on Aquareap

No observations yet - be the first to log one!

View all observations for Grunt sculpin ↗
Suggest an Edit

Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.

Link to a scientific paper, FishBase, or other authoritative source
Report an Issue

Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.