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Twohorn sculpin (Icelus bicornis) — Cottidae

Twohorn sculpin

Icelus bicornis
Family: Cottidae

The Twohorn sculpin (Icelus bicornis) is a saltwater fish of the family Cottidae that grows up to 16 cm.

Length
15.7 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0–930 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean; cold bottoms.
Edibility
Not eaten

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Description

The twohorn sculpin is a sculpin (Cottidae) from the cold waters of the northern Atlantic and Arctic Ocean. The species is small and has a large, bony head with several spines and horny projections, to which the name refers, and a backward-tapering body. It lives on mud, sand or rock bottoms and among algae, to about 930 m deep. As a small bottom predator it feeds on small crustaceans, worms and other bottom life. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Twohorn sculpin?

The Twohorn sculpin has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern. Bony head with horny projections; Arctic cold-water bottom fish down to ~930 m.

Where does the Twohorn sculpin live?

The Twohorn sculpin lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean; cold bottoms.

How big does the Twohorn sculpin get?

The Twohorn sculpin grows to a maximum of about 16 cm. On average the species is around 7 cm.

Is the Twohorn sculpin dangerous to humans?

No, the Twohorn sculpin is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Twohorn sculpin edible?

The Twohorn sculpin is not usually eaten.

More photos

Twohorn sculpin (Icelus bicornis) — Cottidae — 2
Fredrik Broms (CC BY 4.0) via GBIF — nbic
Twohorn sculpin (Icelus bicornis) — Cottidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Jean-François Rousseau, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Twohorn sculpin (Icelus bicornis) — Cottidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Julien Savoie, some rights reserved (CC BY))
Twohorn sculpin (Icelus bicornis) — Cottidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Jean-François Rousseau, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))

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All data

Identification

English name
Twohorn sculpin verified
Scientific name
Icelus bicornis
Family
Cottidae
Other names
Twohorn sculpin verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
15.7 verified
Average length (cm)
7 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown
Pattern
Spots
Tail shape
Rounded
Mouth position
Terminal
Lips
Thick / fleshy
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
0 verified
Max depth (m)
930 verified
Natural range
North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean; cold bottoms.
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small crustaceans, worms and bottom life sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary
Territorial
No
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known.
Special features
Bony head with horny projections; Arctic cold-water bottom fish down to ~930 m. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bottom fishing with natural bait (worm, shrimp or fish) on or just above the seabed.
Regulations source

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Icelus

More from the family Cottidae

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