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Comb sculpin (Icelinus borealis) — Cottidae

Comb sculpin

Icelinus borealis
Family: Cottidae
NE · Not Evaluated

The Comb sculpin (Icelinus borealis) is a saltwater fish of the family Cottidae that grows up to 10 cm.

Length
10.2 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
9.0–310.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The northern sculpin is a small sculpin from the cold waters of the northern Pacific. The species grows to about 10 cm and has a slender body with a large head and rows of small spinelets along the back, and in males a few elongated front dorsal-fin rays. As a bottom-dweller it lives on sand and mud bottoms of the continental shelf, between about 9 and 310 metres, and hunts small crustaceans and worms. The fish is harmless to humans and has no commercial value. The IUCN has not evaluated the species.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Comb sculpin?

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

Where does the Comb sculpin live?

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

How big does the Comb sculpin get?

The Comb sculpin grows to a maximum of about 10 cm.

Is the Comb sculpin dangerous to humans?

No, the Comb sculpin is harmless to humans.

Is the Comb sculpin edible?

The Comb sculpin is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Noordelijke kam-donderpad verified
English name
Comb sculpin verified
Scientific name
Icelinus borealis
Family
Cottidae
Other names
Northern sculpin verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
10.2 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

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

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Geen doelsoort voor de hengelsport; hooguit incidentele vangst of bruikbaar als aasvisje. 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 Icelinus

More from the family Cottidae

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