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Sharpnose sculpin (Clinocottus acuticeps) — Cottidae

Sharpnose sculpin

Clinocottus acuticeps
Family: Cottidae

The Sharpnose sculpin (Clinocottus acuticeps) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Cottidae that grows up to 6 cm.

Length
6.4 cm
Water
Euryhaline
Depth
0.0–20.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The sharpnose sculpin is a small sculpin (Cottidae) from coastal and tidal waters of the eastern Pacific, off North America. The species grows to about 6 cm and has a stocky, brown-mottled body with a pointed head. As a bottom-dweller it lives in tide pools, estuaries and among weed of rocky shores and snaps at small crustaceans, worms and insect larvae. It tolerates strongly varying salinity. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Sharpnose sculpin?

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

Where does the Sharpnose sculpin live?

The Sharpnose sculpin lives in both fresh and salt water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Sharpnose sculpin get?

The Sharpnose sculpin grows to a maximum of about 6 cm. On average the species is around 4 cm.

Is the Sharpnose sculpin dangerous to humans?

No, the Sharpnose sculpin is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Spitskop-donderpad sourced
English name
Sharpnose sculpin sourced
Scientific name
Clinocottus acuticeps
Family
Cottidae
Other names
Sharpnose sculpin verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
6.4 verified
Average length (cm)
4.4 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Marbled sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Euryhaline sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
20.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Clinocottus

More from the family Cottidae

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