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Little dragon sculpin (Blepsias cirrhosus) — Hemitripteridae

Little dragon sculpin

Blepsias cirrhosus

The Little dragon sculpin (Blepsias cirrhosus) is a saltwater fish of the family Hemitripteridae that grows up to 20 cm.

Length
20 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–150.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The silverspotted sculpin is a sculpin of the family Hemitripteridae from the North Pacific, from California to Alaska and Japan. The species reaches about 20 cm and has a laterally compressed body with thread-like skin flaps (cirri) that give it camouflage among seaweeds. It inhabits the intertidal and shallow subtidal zones to about 37 m deep, often among algae. The diet consists of small crustaceans and invertebrates. Notable is its reproduction: the species injects its eggs into the tissue near the cavity of a sponge, which serves as a protected spawning bed.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Little dragon sculpin?

The Little dragon sculpin has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a marbled pattern.

Where does the Little dragon sculpin live?

The Little dragon sculpin lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Little dragon sculpin get?

The Little dragon sculpin grows to a maximum of about 20 cm. On average the species is around 12 cm.

Is the Little dragon sculpin dangerous to humans?

No, the Little dragon sculpin is harmless to humans.

Is the Little dragon sculpin edible?

The Little dragon sculpin is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Drakendonderpad sourced
English name
Little dragon sculpin verified
Scientific name
Blepsias cirrhosus
Family
Hemitripteridae
Other names
Silver spot; Silverspotted sculpin verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
20.0 verified
Average length (cm)
12.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Marbled inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
150.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Blepsias

More from the family Hemitripteridae

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