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Great sculpin (Myoxocephalus polyacanthocephalus) — Cottidae

Great sculpin

Myoxocephalus polyacanthocephalus
Family: Cottidae

The Great sculpin (Myoxocephalus polyacanthocephalus) is a saltwater fish of the family Cottidae that grows up to 80 cm.

Length
80 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–775.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The great sculpin is a sculpin (Cottidae) from the northern Pacific. The species has a large, broad head with spines on the gill cover and a rearward-tapering body without scales. It lives bottom-bound from the intertidal to about two hundred and fifty metres depth, on sand and mud bottoms. As an ambush hunter it takes crustaceans, molluscs and fishes. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Great sculpin?

The Great sculpin has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a marbled pattern.

Where does the Great sculpin live?

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

How big does the Great sculpin get?

The Great sculpin grows to a maximum of about 80 cm.

Is the Great sculpin dangerous to humans?

No, the Great sculpin is harmless to humans.

Is the Great sculpin edible?

Yes, the Great sculpin is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Grote dondervis sourced
English name
Great sculpin verified
Scientific name
Myoxocephalus polyacanthocephalus
Family
Cottidae
Other names
Great sculpin; Sculpin verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
80.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped 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
Two separate 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)
775.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly 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 Myoxocephalus

More from the family Cottidae

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